New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Sunday accused the Centre of attempting to put the caste census in “cold storage” and misleading the public over proposed changes to the women’s reservation framework.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government’s move to amend provisions linked to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is aimed at bypassing the caste census and advancing a political agenda.
Allegations over Article 334-A amendment
Ramesh claimed that the government intends to amend Article 334-A of the Constitution, which ties the implementation of women’s reservation in legislatures to the completion of a census and subsequent delimitation exercise.
According to him, the justification being cited—that caste census results may not be available for several years—is misleading.
He pointed out that states like Bihar and Telangana had successfully completed comprehensive caste surveys within six months, suggesting that delays at the national level are avoidable.
Government’s stance under scrutiny
The Congress leader also referred to previous statements and policy decisions of the government, claiming it had historically been reluctant to conduct a caste-based census beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
He cited past responses in Parliament and an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in 2021, where the government had stated that it had taken a policy decision not to enumerate caste-wise population data comprehensively.
Ramesh further alleged that recent moves indicate a shift in position, but without clarity or consistency.
Debate over census and delimitation
The issue has gained prominence as the government prepares to bring legislation to operationalise women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The Centre has indicated that it plans to delink the implementation of the quota from the census exercise to fast-track its rollout. However, the Congress argues that such a move undermines the original constitutional framework.
The proposed delimitation exercise, which would redraw parliamentary constituencies, has also drawn criticism, with the opposition warning of potential constitutional and political implications.
Opposition plans joint strategy
Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to convene a meeting of opposition leaders around April 15 to formulate a joint strategy for the upcoming special session of Parliament scheduled from April 16 to 18.
In a letter to Narendra Modi, Kharge stated that meaningful discussion on the women’s reservation law would not be possible without clarity on key aspects such as delimitation and census data.
He also criticised the timing of the special session, noting that it coincides with ongoing state elections, and alleged that the government is rushing the process for political gain.
Census timeline and data concerns
Meanwhile, officials from the census department have indicated that the upcoming Census 2027 will be conducted digitally, allowing for faster processing and publication of data.
Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan had earlier stated that much of the data could be made available within the same year.
He also assured that data collected, including caste-related information, would remain confidential and used strictly for statistical purposes.
No immediate government response
There has been no immediate response from the government to the Congress’ latest allegations.
The political confrontation is expected to intensify in the coming days as Parliament prepares to deliberate on key legislative proposals related to women’s reservation and electoral reforms.
Conclusion
The Congress’ allegations have added a fresh layer of political tension ahead of a crucial parliamentary session. With debates over caste census, delimitation, and women’s reservation converging, the coming days are likely to see sharp exchanges between the government and the opposition.
The outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for India’s political and electoral landscape in the years ahead.