New Delhi: In a pointed call for action, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has reiterated his party’s commitment to a nationwide caste census and pressed the BJP-led NDA government for clarity on its timeline. “We had said in the Parliament that we will make Caste Census happen. We had also said that we would scrap the 50% cap, the artificial wall that is in place,” Gandhi said, underscoring that Congress had long called for both the enumeration and a revision of current reservation limits.
Gandhi, speaking on the sudden announcement of the caste census after over a decade, remarked, “Narendra Modi used to say that there are just 4 cases. Don’t know what happened but suddenly after 11 years, Caste Census has been announced. We completely support it but we want a timeline. We want to know that by when this will happen. This is the first step.”
LIVE: Press Conference | AICC Office, New Delhi https://t.co/DwEZrmT1aC
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2025
Praising Telangana’s proactive stance, Gandhi held up the southern state as a model, suggesting that its execution of the caste census could serve as a national reference point. “Telangana has become a model in Caste Census and it can become a blueprint. We offer our support to the Govt in designing the Caste Census…There are two examples – Bihar’s and Telangana’s and there is a vast difference between the two,” he said, implying Telangana’s approach was more robust and inclusive.
Further expanding on the vision behind the demand, Gandhi stressed that the caste census must be viewed as the beginning of a transformative shift in governance and inclusion. “I would like to reiterate that Caste Census is the first step. Our vision is of bringing a new development paradigm through Caste Census. Not just reservations but we are also asking central questions – be it OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis, what is their participation in this country?”
Gandhi emphasized that the objective extends beyond just identifying population groups. “Through Caste Census it will be found, but we have to go ahead of Caste Census,” he said.
He also called on the NDA government to implement an existing constitutional provision that permits reservations in private educational institutions. “We had said one more thing, Congress had raised one more point, it was mentioned in the manifesto as well — Article 15(5) – reservation in private education institutions. This is already a law. We want NDA-BJP Government to begin implementing it.”
