Congress to hold nationwide campaign for caste census: Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU — The Congress OBC Advisory Council meeting, on Wednesday, urged the Centre to carry out the proposed national caste census, taking the Telengana caste survey as a model.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under whose leadership the two-day meeting was held here, said a resolution was passed in this regard.

Calling the resolutions passed at the event as 'Bengaluru declaration', he said, "The Census must include social, economic and educational, 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.

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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.