Congress to hold nationwide campaign for caste census: Siddaramaiah

The Congress OBC Advisory Council meeting on Wednesday, 16 July, resolved to carry out a nationwide campaign for a caste census, said Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.

He said the proposed national census should be conducted taking the Telangana state caste survey as a model.

Calling the resolutions as Bengaluru declaration, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, who chaired the meeting here in Bengaluru, said, "The census must include social, economic and educational [status], employment, political aspects of each individual and caste."

The second resolution was the breaking of the 50 per cent cap on reservation, thereby ensuring suitable reservation for the OBC in education, service, political, and other areas.

The third resolution is that there should be a reservation for OBCs in private educational institutions as per Article 15 (4) of the Indian Constitution.

The advisory council unanimously thanked ‘Nyaya Yoddha’ Rahul Gandhi for taking up the cause of social justice for the marginalised sections of society.

"Rahul Ji’s steady resolve forced the Manuvadi Modi government to surrender to the just and constitutional demand for the caste census in India. On behalf of all the backward classes of India, the council conveys its upfront appreciation and credits Rahul Gandhi’s contribution for this historic achievement," he said.

Terming the Centre’s decision for a caste survey as a milestone, the chief minister said it was only a small step in ensuring social justice as envisaged by the Indian Constitution.

"Under the brave and unflinching leadership of Nyaya Yoddha Rahul Gandhi Ji, India is destined to realise and achieve the ultimate constitutional objective of social empowerment leading to an egalitarian and equal society in our great nation," Siddaramaiah added.