After Chhattisgarh, Congress Announces Caste Census In Rajasthan; Ashok Gehlot Govt To Follow Bihar Model

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday (6 October) declared the state's intention to conduct a caste-based census, following the model implemented in Bihar. Gehlot made this announcement during a media interaction after a party meeting in Jaipur, Mint reported.

The Rajasthan CM explained, "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi initiated the caste census system during the Raipur session of Congress, and we will adopt the same approach here. Similar to Bihar, the Rajasthan government will undertake a caste census, ensuring the people's participation aligns with their population. We will provide guidelines for conducting the caste-based census, following the Bihar model."

Emphasising the significance of a caste-based census, Gehlot asserted, "For effective social security, understanding the caste-wise situation is essential. Different castes in the country engage in various occupations. By knowing the population of each caste, we can formulate special schemes tailored to their needs."

Earlier on 2 October, Bihar released the results of its caste-based survey led by the Mahagathbandhan government under Nitish Kumar. Responding to the census findings, Prime Minister Modi criticized the opposition, accusing them of exploiting the emotions of the poor and perpetuating caste divisions for six decades.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Shajapur district, had previously expressed the party's commitment to conducting a caste-based census if they assumed power at the national level, aiming to benefit all sections of society, particularly the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

In Chhattisgarh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed similar sentiments, promising a caste census in the state if the Congress is re-elected, drawing inspiration from the Bihar model.

The Bihar caste survey disclosed that the Other Backward Class (OBC) and Extremely Backward Class (EBC) collectively constitute 63 percent of the state's population.