Bihar’s Caste-based Census to be Included in INDIA’s Manifesto
In a recent meeting of the coordination committee of INDIA, the issue of conducting a caste-based census in Bihar was discussed. RJD and JDU, the alliance partners, proposed this topic, and it is likely that JDU leader Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav will explain the situation to Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, in order to gain her support.
Mamata Banerjee’s Stance
JDU’s national spokesperson, KC Tyagi, believes that the social structure of West Bengal, where Trinamool and CPM have been dominated by upper-caste individuals, might make Mamata Banerjee hesitant about caste-based calculations. However, Tyagi is hopeful that after discussing the matter with the veterans, Mamata will not oppose this issue. DMK and Odisha, where 85% of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes and Tribes, are also in support of caste-based enumeration.
Caste-based Calculation and NDA
JDU claims that there is consensus on this issue within INDIA. The NDA constituents have always supported caste-based enumeration, with leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Ajit Pawar speaking in favor of it. INDIA plans to target the BJP on this issue, as the JDU and RJD believe that the central government is against caste-based calculation.
INDIA’s Strategy
By making caste-based enumeration an issue for INDIA, the alliance aims to intensify the attack on the BJP. They have criticized the central government for opposing caste-based census and accused them of hiding their true intentions. JDU even launched an expose campaign against the BJP, stating that stopping the caste-based census is like provoking a volcano eruption.
News Summary:
- RJD and JDU propose including the caste-based census in Bihar in INDIA’s manifesto.
- JDU hopes to convince Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, about the importance of caste-based calculation.
- Trinamool Congress might be hesitant due to the dominance of upper-caste individuals in West Bengal’s political parties.
- DMK and Odisha are supportive of caste-based enumeration.
- NDA constituents, including Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, have always supported caste-based calculation.
- INDIA plans to target the BJP on this issue and accuses the central government of opposing caste-based census.
- JDU and RJD claim that stopping the caste-based census is like inducing a volcano eruption.
