Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, June 1
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that a caste-based survey would be conducted in the state within a set time frame as agreed by all parties including the BJP.
The necessary cabinet clearance would be given for the same soon, the Chief Minister said after an all-party meeting. The Bihar CM had earlier said, “Many parties have agreed to the date. But we must have consent of all parties for holding the meeting on any particular date.”
The JD(U) leader, whose ally BJP had been in a fix over the issue, had expressed confidence that all parties in the state would back the proposed move before clearance was given by the cabinet.
“There should be no problem since both houses of legislature in the state have twice passed resolutions favouring a caste census,” Kumar clarified.
The BJP’s indifference followed the Narendra Modi government’s refusal to conduct a caste census nationally. This has evoked allegations from opposition parties like the RJD that the BJP, which derives its support base from, primarily, among the upper castes, did not care much for the OBCs for whom gains are expected from a headcount of all castes. Of late there have been attempts by BJP leaders in Bihar, especially those from backward classes, that it was “never” opposed to a caste census even though the Union government might not have taken it up for “practical reasons”.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav, who also attended the all-party meet, however, clarified that it will be a caste-based survey and not a census. “It’s our win. Today we suggested (in the all-party meeting) that social anthropologists should be included in this. The central government should support it financially. This survey is in the interest of the people of Bihar,” he said.
