'World Bows Down': Congress Credits Rahul Gandhi For Govt’s Caste Census Move; Jairam Poses 'Deadline' Question

A day after the Centre declared that caste data would be included in the upcoming Census, a poster outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi has credited party leader Rahul Gandhi for compelling the Modi-led government to make the move.

The poster, installed by Congress leader Srinivas BV, features Gandhi's photo highlighting his consistent demand for a caste Census in the country. It also emphasises that the step will promote stronger affirmative action to support backward communities.

"We said Modi ji would have to get a Caste Census done. We will get it done. The world bows down, you need someone to make it bow down," the installed poster read.

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP accused Congress of frequently opposing the caste census since Independence, as the party only used the matter as a political tool.

"Considering all these facts and to ensure that the social fabric is not disturbed by politics, caste enumeration should be transparently included in the Census instead of surveys," Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said after announcing the decision of the cabinet. He also added that this decision will strengthen the social and economic structure of the country, as per the NDTV report.

Following the announcement of the caste Census, Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, "We said Modi ji would have to get a caste Census done. We will get it done. This is our vision and we would ensure that the government gets a transparent and effective caste Census done. And everyone knows which sections have what partnership in the country's institutions and power structure." Gandhi also hails individuals and organisations for continuously pushing the issue.

In response, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that "some people are falsely claiming credit". "The country needs to know the truth. Jawaharlal Nehru was strongly against caste-based reservation," Pradhan said. He also added that the Indira Gandhi government later kept the Caste Census issue on the back burner.

"In 1977, the Janata Party government set up the Mandal Commission to bring social justice back on track. Our leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, then with the Jana Sangh, were with the government. Who kept the Mandal Commission report on hold? It was a Congress government. When the VP Singh government implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations, our party supported the government," he said.

Jairam Ramesh Calls The Decision 'Headline Without A Deadline'

Additionally, lashing out at the PM Narendra Modi following the decision, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised for just providing a "headline without a deadline."

"Like what Rahul Gandhi said yesterday, 'headline toh de diya, lekin deadline kaha hai?' Our PM is an expert in giving headlines without deadlines. He said that caste will be involved, and Rahul Gandhi asked for a roadmap for it... We have been asking for it for the last six years," he said, ANI reported.

At a press conference, Jairam Ramesh raised concerns about the government’s intentions and preparedness for conducting the caste census, citing insufficient budget provisions and a lack of clarity on how the exercise would be carried out.

He pointed out a major inconsistency in funding, noting that while the census commissioner’s office received only Rs 575 crore in the 2025–26 budget, the Modi government had previously stated in December 2019 that Rs 8,254 crore would be needed for the national census.

"In 2025-26, the census commissioner's office in the Home Ministry, which has been given the responsibility of conducting the caste census, was allocated Rs 575 crore in the budget. But on 24 December 2019, PM Narendra Modi's government said that Rs 8254 crore is required for the national census... So, what is the purpose and the intent? Only a headline? No details. No Budget... This is the reality," he stated.

He reaffirmed the Congress party’s backing of the caste census, a cause long supported by Rahul Gandhi, but stressed that many critical questions remain unanswered.

"The 2019 decision, where there is no mention of caste and now yesterday's decision - they said that caste will be involved. We supported it, but we have a lot of questions... We got the headline but when is the deadline?" he added.

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