PM Assures Early Decision on Caste-based Census

Responding to demands of caste-based census, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured the Lok Sabha that the government will take a decision in the regard soon, reported PTI.

“I am aware of the views of the members of Parliament belonging to all sections. I assure you that the Cabinet will take a decision shortly,” Singh was quoted as saying in a brief statement.

Singh’s assurance pacified agitated opposition MPs who had forced the House to be adjourned earlier in the wake of Home Minister P Chidambaram’s ruling out of inclusion of caste in the exercise, said report.

It may be mentioned that the debate on the issues had seen MPs cutting across party lines and demanding caste-based census.

In response to the debate, Chidambaram had insisted that the main aim of the exercise was headcount and listed difficulties in including caste in the list.