“BJP supported caste-based census in Bihar but…”: Ashwini Choubey

Patna (Bihar) [India]: Days after the Bihar government announced the completion of the caste-based survey in the state, Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs Ashwini Choubey on Sunday said that his party was the one that supported the survey but the purpose of the state government is to make the people of different castes ‘fight’.

“The caste-based survey is good. BJP supported the caste-based census, but is this survey for making the people of different castes fight among themselves? Did the surveyor reach everybody’s house?” Choubey said while talking to the reporters here.

He further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants justice for every single person in the society.

“We want every single person in society to get justice. We want the Dalits and humiliated people to be extricated,” he added.

Notably, there is a war of words over the caste-based survey in Bihar between the state government with the Opposition party- BJP alleging that the survey will expand a gap between the people of different castes while on the other hand, the government–defending its decision, saying that it will help to know which areas require development.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said the caste-based survey in the state has been completed and the state government would soon make the data public.

He asserted that the caste survey would be beneficial for all sections of the society.

“The caste-based headcount exercise in the state has been completed. Now the data is being compiled and it will soon be made public,” Kumar said.

He also said that he is confident that other states will also follow the same once its data comes out.

“The caste-based survey in the state is beneficial for all. It will enable the government to work for the development of various sections of society, including those who are deprived.

This will help us to know which areas require development. Let the detailed data come, I am sure that other states will also follow it,” he said.

The decision of a caste census was taken by the Bihar cabinet on June 2 last year, months after the Centre ruled out such an exercise in the census.

The survey was slated to cover an estimated population of 12.70 crores in an estimated 2.58 crore households in 38 districts, which have 534 blocks and 261 urban local bodies and was to be completed by May 31, 2023, but the Patna High Court put a stay on the Nitish Kumar government’s decision to conduct the survey based on castes.