Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday sharply criticised the Central government’s response to his parliamentary query regarding the Caste Census, labelling the reply as “shocking” and an “open betrayal of trust” with the nation’s Bahujan community.
Gandhi, who has been a vocal proponent for the nationwide enumeration, stated that he had sought details on the concrete framework and timeline for the exercise but received an “unsatisfactory response.”
In a post on his X handle, the Congress leader outlined his disappointment: “In Parliament, I asked the government a question about caste census—their response is shocking. No concrete framework, no time-bound plan, no discussion in Parliament, and no dialogue with the public.”
He firmly asserted that the government’s current stance on the caste census amounts to an “open betrayal of trust” with the country’s Bahujans.
Gandhi also pointed out the Centre’s apparent lack of interest in learning from successful models already implemented across the country.
“The government has not even shown any desire to learn from the strategies of successful caste censuses in other states. Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka have conducted caste censuses, which have helped them in their development programmes,” he added.
The Congress leader’s remarks intensify the political debate over the urgency of the Caste Census. While the government had previously announced a plan to conduct the exercise in 2027, Gandhi continues to demand a clear, actionable plan with a definitive timeline for the pivotal survey.