Latest news with #NinthSchedule
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"People of Bihar are innocent, not stupid": RJD slams PM Modi over Bihar visit, claims schemes not being implemented
Patna (Bihar) [India], May 31 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, saying that the projects which were inaugurated by the PM are not being implemented properly. Jha further claimed that many of the schemes announced were previously introduced but never executed. 'Today, you (PM Modi) have laid the foundation stone again for the same schemes which you have done twenty times, I can count each one. It does not suit the post of Prime Minister. We had said that Bihar should not be a state for labour supply. Capital is in Gujarat, and the concentration of money is there, but we did not say that the sweat and blood of workers should be supplied with Shramik trains,' Jha said at a press conference in Patna. Several leaders from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), allied with the RJD for the upcoming Bihar elections, were also present at the briefing. Jha raised key issues such as the demand for special status for Bihar, the need to transform the state's economic image, and the lack of visible progress. 'Honourable Prime Minister came on a two-day tour. What shall I say? 'tere aane aur tene jaane mein sadiyon ka faasla hai (there is a gap of many years with your comings and goings)....yesterday, the people of Mahagathbandan party had raised some questions, and they were about rocket science, they were about the employment of Bihar's land, progress and its special state status,' Jha remarked. 'I had said that like in 2015, do not ignore Bihar. Bihar does not like that attitude and that tossed money, thrown away in which there is no reality, we don't like that but you didn't agree,' he added. Regarding reservations, Jha reiterated the demand to raise the cap to 65 per cent. He mentioned that this proposal had been made when RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was in alliance with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 'When Tejashwi (Yadav) was with Nitish Kumar in the Mahagathbandhan, then we had talked about sixty-five per cent reservation by increasing the quantum. We know who got the proxy done in the court, but we told the Prime Minister that you removed this from the court and put it in the Ninth Schedule so it would remain safe,' he said. Jha also emphasised Bihar's repeated demand for special status and alleged that the Centre has ignored multiple letters sent by opposition leaders. 'We had written letters to PM Modi regarding special status, Leader of Opposition, the whole Mahagathbandhan wrote letters, but PM did not listen. But looking at the schemes which were inaugurated, there has just been an announcement, but it is not going up from the ground. So you are simply just cutting the same chicken again and again. Bihar is innocent, but not stupid,' he said. Hitting out at PM Modi, he said that he initially did not expect him to talk about social justice but hoped he would change his mind and listen to the opposition. 'We did not expect talk of social justice from someone who is inspired by Gowalkar's 'Bunch of Thoughts', but we thought that maybe PM has changed, and might listen to us,' he said. On Friday, PM Modi hit out at the opposition (RJD and Congress) over the issue of social justice, saying that the people who cheated Bihar the most are now talking about 'social justice' for the sake of power. PM Modi said that during the opposition's tenure, poor and deprived sections of the society had to leave Bihar, and for decades, the Dalits and tribals of the state did not have toilets. He stated that their entry into banks was also not allowed. 'Those who cheated Bihar the most, during whose tenure the poor and deprived sections of Bihar had to leave Bihar, are today the same people telling the lie of social justice to gain power. For decades, the Dalits, backward classes and tribals of Bihar did not even have toilets,' PM Modi said. PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation of multiple development projects worth over Rs 48,520 crore on Friday in Karakat district. (ANI)
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kharge writes to Modi, demands all-party meet before caste census
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to convene an all-party meeting before implementing the caste census across the country. In his letter, Kharge criticised the government for announcing the caste census without providing any details. He offered three specific suggestions for the government's consideration. 'You have now announced (the caste census), without providing any details, that the next census (that was actually due in 2021) will include caste as a separate category as well. I have three suggestions for your consideration,' he wrote. Kharge stressed that caste data should not be collected merely for enumeration but to advance the goal of social justice. He urged the Centre to adopt the model used by Telangana for its caste survey. 'The recently conducted Telangana caste survey was designed and implemented with such goals in mind. The Union Home Ministry must draw upon the Telangana model — both the methodology adopted for finalising the questionnaire and the final set of questions asked,' he stated. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) writes to PM Narendra Modi after the government's caste census decision, requests him to have a dialogue with all political parties soon on the issue. #CasteCensus — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 6, 2025 He also called for the inclusion of state-level reservation laws in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. 'Only the Tamil Nadu reservation law has been protected in the Ninth Schedule of our Constitution since August 1994. Laws of other states should also be included in the Ninth Schedule,' Kharge wrote. Additionally, he urged the government to implement Article 15(5) of the Constitution, which allows for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), including in private educational institutions. Kharge pointed out that he had earlier written to the Prime Minister on 16 April 2023, reiterating the Congress party's demand for an updated caste census, but never received a response. 'Regrettably, I never received any reply to this letter. Unfortunately, your party leaders and yourself went on to attack the INC and its leadership for raising this legitimate demand — which you today acknowledge is in the interest of deeper social justice and empowerment,' he added. Concluding the letter, Kharge criticised the government for bypassing consensus-building. 'I would request you to have a dialogue with all political parties soon on the issue of the caste census,' he said. Background: Cabinet clears caste census inclusion On 30 April, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, headed by PM Modi, approved the inclusion of caste-related data in the upcoming national census. The move marked a policy shift, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had previously opposed caste-based enumeration. Opposition leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, had long demanded such a survey. Explainer: What is a census? A census is a countrywide survey conducted to determine the population count and gather key demographic data. In India, this exercise is held every 10 years. The first census was carried out in 1872 during British rule. Since Independence, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs has been responsible for conducting the census. The last census took place in 2011. The 2021 census was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. What is a caste census? A caste census is more specific than a general census. Alongside basic demographic data, it gathers information about individuals' caste identities. Such data helps the government understand how various caste groups are distributed and performing across the country — economically, socially and educationally. It also provides insights into how effective past welfare policies have been and whether certain communities are still marginalised.
Economic Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Kharge writes to PM on caste census; calls for adopting Telangana model, dialogue with all parties
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the government's caste census decision, urging him to draw upon the Telangana model as well as have a dialogue with all political parties soon on this issue. In his letter to Modi, Kharge has also urged the prime minister to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservation by a constitutional amendment and immediately implement Article 15(5) providing for reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs in private educational institutions."Conducting any exercise such as the caste census which gives the backward, the oppressed and the marginalized sections of our society their rights cannot and should not be considered divisive in any way," Kharge said."Our great nation and our large-hearted people have always come together as one whenever needed, just as we have done after the recent cowardly terrorist attacks in Pahalgam," he said in his letter to Modi dated May Congress believes that conducting the caste census in the comprehensive manner is absolutely necessary to ensure social and economic justice and equality of status and opportunity as pledged in the Preamble of our Constitution, Kharge Congress president recalled that had also written to the prime minister on April 16, 2023 putting forward the Congress' demand for an up-to-date caste census."Regrettably, I never received any reply to this letter. Unfortunately, your party leaders and yourself went on to attack the Congress and its leadership for raising this legitimate demand which you today acknowledge is in the interests of deeper social justice and empowerment," Kharge said in his letter to the PM."You have now announced, without providing any details, that the next Census (that was actually due in 2021) will include caste as a separate category as well," he said he has three suggestions to make with the first one being about the design of the census information has to be collected not for counting purposes but for achieving larger socio-economic objectives, Kharge pointed out."The recently-concluded Telangana caste survey was designed and implemented with such goals in mind. The Union Home Ministry must draw upon the Telangana model--both the methodology adopted for finalizing the questionnaire as well the final set of questions asked," Kharge in the report published finally should be concealed so that complete socio-economic data of each caste is made available to provide them their constitutionally enabled rights and the socio-economic progress can be measured from one census to another, he also pointed out that only the Tamil Nadu reservations law has been protected in the Ninth Schedule of our Constitution since August of other states should also be included in the Ninth Schedule of our Constitution, he whatever the results of the caste census will be, it is abundantly clear that the arbitrarily imposed 50% ceiling on reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs must be removed by a Constitutional amendment, Kharge Congress president also called for immediate implementation of Article 15(5)."Article 15(5) was introduced in the Constitution of India with effect from 20th January 2006. This was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court. Finally, it was upheld by the Supreme Court after prolonged deliberations on 29 January, 2014 very shortly before the model code of conduct for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections went into effect," he pointed out that it provides for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs in private educational institutions as well."In its 364th Report on the Demand for Grants for the Department of Higher Education, submitted on 25th March 2025 the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports had also recommended a new legislation to implement Article 15(5)," he parties, including the Congress, had been demanding a nationwide caste census, making it a major election issue. Some states like Bihar, Telangana and Karnataka have conducted such Kharge's letter on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Following the CWC meeting on May 2nd, the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji wrote to the PM last night on Mr. Modi's sudden and desperate U-turn on the caste census - even as the nation's anguish and anger at the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks continued unabated.""Kharge ji has made three very specific suggestions," he said.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Its own caste survey in hand, Congress in Karnataka to test BJP with demand to lift quota ceiling
Following on the lines of Bihar, Telangana, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh – which have enacted laws to increase the reservations for Backward Classes, Dalits and tribals above the 50% limit prescribed by the Supreme Court – Karnataka may also enact a law and ask the Centre to protect it from judicial review. The Congress leadership in Karnataka has dropped hints that it would pursue the political strategy of pushing the BJP at the Centre to increase the reservations in government jobs and education above the 50% mark – in the wake of the Modi government's announcement of enumerating castes in the next population Census. 'The ceiling of 50% reservation should be removed. Reservations should be in line with the population of Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities and tribes. There should be a study of their socioeconomic and educational status, and reservations should be provided,' Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Thursday, adding that the ceiling of 50% imposed by the Supreme Court in 1992 in the Indra Sahwney case had 'no scientific basis'. 'The 50% ceiling on reservation has lost its relevance after 10% reservation was provided to the Economically Weaker Section (in 2019). In Tamil Nadu, there is a 69% reservation law. It is protected under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Jharkhand has raised it to 77%… Even the Central government has hiked the quotas by 10% (for EWS) and it has been upheld by the Supreme Court,' Siddaramaiah added. The government in Karnataka, where a 2015 Socio Economic and Educational Survey enumerating caste was submitted to the government last year by the Karnataka State Commission For Backward Classes (KSCBC), is likely to enact a law to increase reservations in the state above the 50% limit based on the recommendations of the report that was unveiled in April. Existing reservations based on population The Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet has been dallying over the report since receiving it on April 11 and a Cabinet meeting scheduled on May 2 to consider the report in detail now stands postponed to May 9. Based on the Socio Economic and Educational Survey, the KSCBC recommended increasing reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state from 32% to 51% – taking the overall reservation for backward communities to 69%, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at a combined 18%, and the total reservations to 79% (with 10% for the EWS). The passage of a law to implement the report's recommendations has, in fact, become easier since the Centre's proposal for a caste enumeration in the next Census is expected to lower the resistance from the state's opposition BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), allowing discussions in the state legislature. 'The Congress strategy is to welcome the announcement of the caste count. We do not know the seriousness of the BJP since it has always opposed a caste census. The Census could take over two years for completion. Our plan is to move ahead on the basis of our agenda, as done in other states,' a senior Congress leader said. Opposition INDIA bloc-led governments have enacted laws in Telangana and Jharkhand on the basis of caste surveys to hike reservations to 70% and 77% respectively, including EWS. The Janata Dal (United)-led government in Bihar has hiked reservations to 75%, with EWS. Recommended reservations based on state survey The Congress is seen as likely to test the BJP's commitment to a social justice agenda by seeking inclusion of any law passed for the increase in reservations under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution – through an amendment passed by Parliament. When the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services Under the State) Act, 1993, was passed by the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK government – to increase quotas to 69% – the AIADMK had campaigned in Delhi for inclusion of the Act under the Ninth Schedule and the Congress government led by then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had agreed eventually. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court but no conclusion has been reached in 30 years. 'Since the M R Balaji vs State of Mysore case of 1963 – when 69% reservations were provided in Karnataka (erstwhile Mysore) – on the basis of the Naganagouda Commission report, the courts have been asking for scientific data to determine social and educational backwardness. The recent caste survey has gathered the data,' a senior Congress leader said.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Government will decide on 50% quota cap, says minister
NEW DELHI: As the Congress upped ante over its demand for removing the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs, Union Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Friday said that the decision lies with the Central government and it will take a call on the issue. Speaking to this newspaper, Athawale said that the Supreme Court has set a 50 per cent limit on reservations in jobs and education through various rulings. 'There is a guideline of the Supreme Court not to exceed 50 percent reservation .Currently Tamil Nadu has a reservation policy of 69 percent reservation placed under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution in 1994. The government will take a call on removing the 50 percent cap,' he said. Hailing the Centre's decision to include caste enumeration in the national Census, the minister said that the caste census was a long standing demand of the Republican Party of India (RPI), an ally of the NDA government. ' I have raised the demand for caste census several occasions in Parliament. This will provide clear data of the caste –based marginalization and deprivation. ,' he said adding that caste count is the need of the hour because government policies could truly reflect the lived realities of the marginalized communities. While the Congress asked the government to fix a time frame for the caste enumeration, Athawale said that the past Congress governments failed to take initiative on conducting nationwide caste census.
