Subhechcha Ganguly 
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to announce a clear timeline for the caste census and initiate a dialogue with all political parties on the issue. Emphasizing the importance of social and economic justice, Kharge asserted that a caste census should not be viewed as divisive, but as a step toward ensuring equality and opportunity for all citizens.
In the letter sent on Monday, Kharge, who also serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, called for a constitutional amendment to remove the “arbitrary” 50% cap on reservations. He stressed that such a move aligns with the values enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Kharge’s appeal follows the Congress Working Committee’s recent meeting, where the party advocated adopting Telangana’s caste survey model and demanded immediate allocation of funds and a detailed timeline for the process.
He also pointed out the BJP’s past opposition to the caste census, stating, “Unfortunately, your party leaders and you yourself have continuously attacked the Congress Party for raising this legitimate demand. Today, you yourself are admitting that this demand is in the interest of deeper social justice.”
Kharge’s remarks come just days after the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the next decennial census, originally scheduled for 2021, but without offering specifics on execution.
“The announcement lacks clarity,” Kharge noted, urging the government to back the inclusion with a comprehensive plan and action steps.
