http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-dragging-its-feet-on-caste-count-Sharad-Yadav/articleshow/6149544.cms
Govt dragging its feet on caste count: Sharad Yadav
TNN, Jul 10, 2010, 03.22am IST
NEW DELHI: With the monsoon session of Parliament round the corner,
the politics over caste census intensified further on Friday with
JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav castigating the government for
dragging its feet over the issue.
Yadav, who played a key role in mobilising support from political
parties in Parliament in favour of caste census, said that he had
written to Congress leader and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to
explain the government's reluctance even in the face of, as he said,
political consensus over the need for such a census.
"By dragging its feet on inclusion of caste in census, the Centre is
showing its lack of commitment for a just society because without
proper caste data we cannot remove caste disparities and caste
system," he said.
Mukerjee heads the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the caste census. "I
have said in my letter that I would not like to repeat what transpired
between us when Parliament was on. I just want to remind you that
there was an agreement on caste census," Yadav said, as he further
elaborated on how the government had developed cold feet after
initially almost committing to caste census.
Terming the formation of GoM as unwarranted, Yadav said it was meant
only to waste time. "This is yet another delaying tactic by the
government. Almost all political parties have given their views in the
Lok Sabha," he said. Indicating that the issue will be raised in the
monsoon session of Parliament, Yadav said there was no scope for
further deliberation on caste census and that he was shocked at the
attitude of the government.
However, Yadav also demanded setting up of a commission "to eradicate
caste system" in the society. He brushed aside suggestions that there
was a contradiction in his stand saying that inclusion of caste in
census would actually help in eradicating caste bias in society. He
said that the government seemed to be under the influence of
"conservative elements, which do not want a just society in India".
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