On Thursday, Congress accused Prime Minister Modi of fully intending to put off the caste census, and said a year has gone by since the announcement with no plan being presented. They’ve called out the lack of a method, schedule, or discussion with others. They are asking for an explanation for the government’s quietness after saying they would count castes in the next census.
One year after announcement, no details
Jairam Ramesh stated that on April 30, 2025 the government declared that a caste count of everyone in the country would be included in the next census. He says that a whole year later, there are still no details on how this will be put into practice.
Ramesh also added that there has been no discussion with political parties who oppose the government, state governments, or specialists. He says the issue is even more important now that Parliament has just finished a special session.
Chronology cited by Jairam Ramesh
To mark the anniversary of the announcement, Ramesh put a detailed list of dates and what happened on social media to show how the government’s earlier views differ from the 2025 plan. He says this history shows a huge change of direction and now, another attempt to stop the census.
He listed the following key developments as context:
– Jul 21, 2021: No caste-wise enumeration, said the Home Minister.
– Sep 21, 2021: Affidavit opposed court-directed caste enumeration.
– Apr 16, 2023: Kharge demanded an up-to-date caste census.
– Apr 28, 2024: PM criticised the demand as ‘urban naxal’ thinking.
– Apr 30, 2025: Government announced caste enumeration in Census.
– May 5, 2025: Kharge wrote again; no acknowledgement.
Letters and unanswered queries
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge first wrote to the Prime Minister on April 16, 2023 asking for an updated caste census to be part of the usual census. Ramesh says Kharge wrote to him again on May 5, 2025, but the letter wasn’t even answered and the problems Kharge brought up are still relevant.
Ramesh believes the Prime Minister should apologize to Congress leaders for calling them “urban naxals” on TV on April 28, 2024. He also wants to know why the government has done an about-face after the 2025 announcement, and then done nothing for a year.
Congress presses for clarity on process
Ramesh says the government hasn’t told anyone how the caste count will be carried out, which groups will be used, or how the information will be checked for accuracy. Also, despite lots of practical and technical questions, no one with a stake in the process has been consulted.
He says that because there’s no timeline after the 2025 announcement, it makes people question if the government really means to do this. He thinks what happened at the recent Parliament session shows the Prime Minister wants to delay the process even more.
What Congress wants next
The party wants a definite plan from the central government. Ramesh says the government needs to explain the structure, timelines and how they will work with the states, opposition parties, and experts in the field, before they do anything else.
Ramesh repeats that Congress is for counting castes in the next census as was announced on April 30, 2025. He says the government must now do what it says and be open and continually consult with others.
