BJP backward class morcha chief hails caste survey

Time of India

07-05-2025

Lucknow: BJP's national backward class morcha chief K Laxman on Wednesday said the Modi govt's decision to conduct a caste survey has created a new chapter in India's political history. Laxman, who was in Lucknow to attend a discussion on caste survey, said the exercise would help OBCs and extremely backward classes to recognise their numbers and gain constitutional rights proportional to their population.Laxman criticised Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav for trying to take credit for the Centre's decision. He said the opposition historically opposed the backward classes and said "they should apologise to backward."He said that in 2010, the then PM Manmohan Singh had promised to consider a caste census in the Cabinet. "A committee was formed, and most of the political parties recommended a caste-based census. However, then home minister P Chidambaram opposed a caste-based census in 2011, suggesting it be conducted separately," he said.The Congress govt conducted a survey instead, spending Rs 4,893 crore. "But the data was not published due to innumerable errors," he said. Narendra Kashyap, UP BJP Backward Class Morcha President and a UP minister, said there is a celebratory atmosphere among the backward classes due to the Centre's decision. He said OBCs would have more chances to advance in education, economy and politics. Sangam Lal Gupta, national general secretary of BJP Backward Class Morcha, said the OBC frontal organisation would organise welcome ceremonies, and rallies nationwide.