Caste-based Census: Cabinet Puts Decision on Hold
With ministers being sharply divided, the Union Cabinet has put on hold a decision on caste-based Census and referred it to a group of ministers (GoM), said media reports.
Ministers like M Veerappa Moily, Pranab Mukherjee, MK Azhagiri and Farooq Abdullah argued in favour of caste Census, while others as P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Mukul Wasnik opposed the move citing a number of reasons including the influence of breaking the 70-year-long practice, reports said.
The cabinet held meeting a short while ago to discuss if caste-based Census should be undertaken, said reports.
The Congress-led government came under pressure from backward politics fuelled by OBC leaders to endorse their demand.
Last time, a caste-based Census was carried out in the country in 1931.
The Home ministry is reportedly not in favour of a caste-based Census for logistical reasons while Mayawati, Mulayam, Lalu and Ramvilas Paswan are the most vocal supporters of caste based Census.
(Based on internet reports)
