RJD president Lalu Prasad on Sunday demanded the release of caste census figures for Bihar and said he will take up the cause with a march to the Raj Bhawan (Governor’s House) here on July 13.
“The caste census was completed long back, but the central government is not releasing the figures under a planned conspiracy. The data should be released immediately. I will march to Raj Bhawan on July 13 to press for it,” he said.
Mr. Prasad was speaking to reporters at the 19th foundation day celebrations of RJD at its state headquarters here.
He said the march will start from Kargil Chowk and he would go with the supporters to the Raj Bhawan to give a petition demanding release of caste census figures.
“Everybody has a right to know the population of his or her caste. People should also know what population of a particular caste is. We keep hearing many claims about caste-related numbers by many persons. The census figures will show the real numbers,” Mr. Prasad said.
The RJD chief’s demand gains importance with the Assembly elections just a few months away.
Mr. Prasad, who claims to be leader of the Yadav caste, constitutes around 14 per cent of the 6.5 crore total voters in the state.
Similarly, he claims the support of the minority community, which comprises about 16 per cent of the voters.
“A release of census data at this juncture will give a clear cut edge to Prasad in the JD(U), Congress and NCP alliance. RJD will also get a psychological boost by the numbers, which is expected to reveal some growth in the Mr. Yadav and minority population,” said a party leader who did not wish to be named.
Prasad said the coming state Assembly elections would be “Mandal pitted against Kamandal” and hinted the polls would see a contest between “social justice forces and orthodox religious forces.”
“This will be a contest between social justice forces and communal forces. We will destroy the BJP and ensure its ghar wapasi,” he said.
The RJD supremo said he has plans to pen a book on the Mandal Commission, which would be a tell-all on the past and present political leaders.
Reacting to a claim by Union Minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan that senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was arrested during his 1989 ‘rath yatra’ by Prasad only after much pursuance by the central leadership, the RJD chief said he would reveal the names of all leaders who did not want to arrest Advani at that time.
Asked about Paswan, the RJD chief said on a lighter note that he won’t attack him as he (Paswan) was celebrating 69th birthday today.
