Naidu, speaking to The Indian Express, said: “Yes, you have to honour it [the public demand for a caste census]. There are no second thoughts.”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, speaking on the Caste census, said: “Yes, it has to be done. There is a sentiment, and there’s nothing wrong with it. You do a caste census, you do an economic analysis, and you go for a skill census. You work out how to build all these things and reduce economic disparities.”
Naidu, speaking to The Indian Express, said: “Yes, you have to honour it [the public demand for a caste census]. “There are no second thoughts. At the same time, poverty is the biggest issue. Even if you belong to a weaker section, if you have money, society will respect you. If you are from an upper caste and don’t have money, nobody will respect you. Wealth is a big leveller. That’s where you have to find balance.”
Ajit Pawar-led NCP has also been in favour of a caste-based census. In fact, the party had mentioned in its manifesto that it supports the demand for caste-based census. Besides, LGP (Ram Vilas), another NDA partner, has been vocal about the same.
Meanwhile, The Congress party and Lop Rahul Gandhi have vowed to implement a nationwide caste-based census, and the same has been reiterated multiple times by Mr Gandhi.
BJP-RSS Take
In November 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the BJP did not oppose the caste census, but said that any decision about it would be taken after wide consultations.
Last month, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s national media-in-charge, Sunil Ambekar, said that caste and caste relations are a very sensitive issue in Hindu society as well as from the point of national unity and integrity. “So, it should be dealt with very seriously, not just on the basis of electioneering or election practices or politics,”
He also said: “RSS had no objection to a caste census as long as it was undertaken for the welfare of downtrodden communities but that the same should not be used for electoral gains.”
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