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The Times of India
The Times of India
National
Kumar Shakti Shekhar | TNN

BJP underplays Nitish's demand for caste census, reposes trust in Bihar CM

NEW DELHI: While Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday once again raked up the need for a caste-based census, BJP has sought to underplay the row which it has triggered. The senior coalition partner of the NDA government in the state has also reiterated its trust in the leadership of the CM.

Talking to mediapersons in Patna, Kumar said a meeting of all the political parties of Bihar might be held later this week over demanding a caste census. “Many parties have agreed to the date. But we must have the consent of all parties for holding the meeting on any particular date,” he said.

The CM exuded confidence that there should be no problem in getting the nod of all the parties before the state cabinet gives its approval since both houses of legislature have twice passed resolutions favouring a caste census.

Kumar is one of the senior-most leaders of JD(U) which is governing Bihar along with BJP. He has supported the demand for a caste census raised by leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Yadav of Lalu Prasad-led RJD.

BJP has not yet spelt out its stand in favour of a caste census. Kumar’s posturing on the issue and support to RJD has the potential to strain the relationship with BJP which has 77 MLAs in the 243-member assembly while JD(U) has 45 legislators. Principal opposition RJD is represented by 76 MLAs in the lower house.

Talking to TOI, BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said, “We very firmly believe that caste census cannot be an exclusive yardstick to measure our commitment to social justice. As a party that has given one of the strongest PMs in the history of Indian politics from the backward community, that has given remarkable representation to the OBCs in the Union council of ministers and also as a party that has given constitutional status to backward classes commission, the people from the backward classes communities are solidly standing behind BJP and are committed to the cause of the backward communities.”

Asked whether Kumar’s stand would cause a rift between JD(U) and BJP, Paswan said, “We went to the election in 2020 under the leadership of Shri Nitish Kumar and under the guidance of honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Ours is one of the oldest relationships and it has stood the test of times. Nitish Kumar is the undisputed leader of NDA in Bihar and will continue to be the CM of Bihar as was promised in 2020.”

Resolutions were introduced twice in the Bihar assembly demanding caste-based census - once in 2019 and the second time in 2020. All BJP MLAs had voted in its favour.

Kumar and Yadav, along with other leaders, had even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital in August last year to demand a caste census. However, the Centre has not yet given its approval to the issue.

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