'Nehru was a staunch opponent of caste-based reservation': Dharmendra Pradhan hits back at Oppn over caste census

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. (File photo/PTI)

A day after the Union Cabinet gave its approval to include caste census in the national census, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed PM Modi's decision and termed the move to include caste enumeration in the next census as a “sensitive decision to correct historical mistakes”.

While addressing the press, Pradhan said, "Yesterday when this decision was taken, some people got agitated. They were saying 'sarkar unki hai, system humara hai'... Who was in control of the government and the system in 1951? It was well known that if Babasaheb and Mahatma Gandhi were not there in the country, if there was no issue of social sensitivity in Nehru's mind, if the Constituent Assembly need not be consulted, then there would not have been reservations in the country today.

"Nehru was a staunch opponent of caste-based reservation... Who kept the Mandal Commission report locked in the dungeon for 10 years?... In the government led by VP Singh, the Mandal Commission report was implemented on our (BJP) suggestion... Rajiv Gandhi has also given long speeches against OBC reservation... What can we expect from those whose social justice is limited to justice for their families? The Congress Party has always been against the deprived, tribal, Dalit, and backwards classes of the country. That is why their hypocrisy is visible today," he added.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by PM Modi, on Wednesday decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a media briefing following the cabinet meeting that the decision demonstrates the present government's commitment to the holistic interests and values of the nation and society.

The government announced that caste enumeration will be included in the forthcoming census exercise in a “transparent” manner and slammed the opposition parties for using caste survey as a “political tool”.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, have been demanding a nationwide caste census, making it a major election issue, and some states like Bihar, Telangana and Karnataka have conducted such surveys.

“The beginning of a new era of equality, harmony, good governance and social justice! This is a positive step towards keeping the deprived and backward people at the centre of policy-making, connecting all sections of the society, removing social, educational and economic inequalities in a transparent and authentic manner and ensuring proper rights for all sections,” Pradhan wrote in a post on X.

“Opposition parties including Congress have always deceived on the issue of caste census. When Congress was in power, it limited this issue to caste survey only. It was never made a part of the census. But the policy of Modi government is to take clear and far-sighted decisions. This sensitive decision to correct historical mistakes has been possible due to the strong will of the prime minister,” he added.

Pradhan said the decision will also prove to be important in strengthening the concept of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ and social justice.