A sharp exchange unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Thursday as Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the Centre’s urgency in introducing the Women’s Reservation Bill, raising concerns over the absence of a recent Census and alleging that the government is avoiding a caste-based enumeration.
Participating in the debate, Akhilesh Yadav said, “Why is the Centre rushing for women’s reservation? Start with the Census first,” while reiterating that his party supports women’s reservation in principle but opposes its implementation through delimitation.
He further alleged that the government is deliberately delaying the Census to avoid triggering demands for a caste census and an expansion of reservations.
He remarked, “They are delaying the census because when it happens, we will ask for the caste-based census, and they don’t want it.”
Responding to the criticism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Census exercise has already begun and assured the House that a caste-based Census would also be conducted.
“The Census process has already started across the country, and after that, we will also conduct a caste-based census. Currently, the House Listing is underway; homes don’t belong to a certain caste. If SP has its way, it will designate a caste to homes also. I want to assure the House that the Census is going to happen with the caste census as well,” Shah said, taking a swipe at the opposition.
(IANS)
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