Shivraj Chouhan questions Congress’s track record on caste census

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) questioned the Congress party’s record on conducting a caste census, asserting that its leadership – particularly Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi – must first account for the party’s inaction during previous regimes before claiming credit for the recent move by the Union government.

Addressing a press conference in the State capital following the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, Mr. Chouhan alleged that the Opposition alliance, including the Congress, was engaged in a “rat race” to take credit for a decision made by the Central government.

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“When in power, they did not carry out a caste census. But now, sitting in the Opposition, they are clamouring for it. Rahulji must answer why successive Congress governments failed to implement such a census,” Mr. Chouhan said. He further claimed that former Prime Ministers from the Congress – Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi – had opposed the idea of a caste-based census.

Citing the assurances given by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament, Mr. Chouhan said a group of Ministers was constituted to examine the matter, but a caste census was ultimately not conducted. Instead, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had carried out the Socio-Economic and Caste Census in 2011, which, according to Mr. Chouhan, was marred by inaccuracies. “The survey had several errors, but they were concealed. Lying and misleading are part of the Congress’ DNA,” he alleged.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister maintained that the proposed caste census would be carried out in a transparent manner, ensuring that all sections of society are taken into consideration. “It will be done without causing social disharmony. Earlier, our government implemented a 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections, and it was done peacefully,” he said.

Responding to the Congress party’s demand for a clear timeline and financial allocation for the census, Mr. Chouhan remarked, “The census will have a budget, obviously. That is common sense. But will the dates be decided in consultation with the Opposition? It will be done in due course, keeping national interest in mind.”

He also criticised Mr. Gandhi for what he termed as a misunderstanding of constitutional provisions, suggesting that the Congress leader “take tuitions” to better comprehend the Constitution. Referring to Mr. Gandhi’s remarks about a caste survey conducted in Telangana by the State’s Congress government, Mr. Chouhan clarified, “What happened in Telangana was a survey, not a caste census.”

“The Congress has always harboured a vision of dividing society,” Mr. Chouhan said, reiterating that the government’s approach would be data-driven and inclusive.