On the last day of the budget session of Parliament, members raised the issue of inclusion of caste in the ongoing census, prompting the government to assure the House that it will be done.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad raised the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.
He reminded the government that he, along with Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Sharad Yadav (JD—U) and Gopinath Munde (BJP) had met Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee and asked him to include caste in census.
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“We submitted a request for including caste in census. A proforma was sought from us for this. We have given that also,” Mr. Prasad said.
Mr. Mulayam said he had full faith in Mr. Mukherjee, but steps should be taken before the census exercise is completed.
Mr. Mukherjee assured the House that the government is taking steps to include caste in census.
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“The proforma had been given to us. Then Sharad Yadav suggested some amendments in it. We have given the amended proforma to the Home Minister. I can assure that this will be encompassed in the Caste based counting,” Mr. Mukherjee said.
OBC leaders have been demanding inclusion of caste in census. They maintain that their percentage in population has gone up and, hence, they are entitled to more reservation in jobs.