'Don’t want to repeat UPA’s errors': Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel slams Opposition for taking 'six decades' to conduct caste census

Anupriya Patel has demanded a caste census in Parliament as well as at meetings of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

In her message to the Opposition, Anupriya Patel, who leads BJP key ally Apna Dal (Soneylal), said the Centre will not take six decades to conduct a caste census.

Speaking to Indian Express, the Union Minister questioned why despite being in power for the longest time the Congress and the UPA did not conduct the caste census. “You had too many opportunities. PM Modi got only one chance. As NDA allies, we have been raising it at every forum. NDA partners made it possible,” she said.

Patel admitted that the government must work on the technical details. “We do not want methodological errors that happened under the UPA. I just want to tell the Opposition that we will not take six decades (to conduct a caste census). There is a timeframe, and the government has prepared it. It will be known at the appropriate time,” she told IE.

She also said the Centre did not take the decision keeping elections in mind. “Uttar Pradesh is a state where OBCs dominate the population. We have more than 52% OBCs and more than 22% SCs and Scheduled Tribes. It is not about Uttar Pradesh, though. It is a sentiment of the marginalised communities across the states. You need not connect it with the elections,” Patel said.

Patel has been demanding a caste census, in Parliament as well as at meetings of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). She also dismissed the argument that caste enumeration could further divide society. “It is not true. If you want to build a more equitable society, we have to do away with caste-based discrimination. National integration will be achieved when those who were left behind for ages are taken care of. You have to reach them and take your policies there,” she said.

However, she said the impact of it will be seen and felt in many ways. “The caste structure is age-old and caste-based discrimination is a reality in our society. It has persisted and we have adjusted to it because caste is a reality and critical to our social setup. But if you want the nation to grow, we have to address the social inequalities for which a caste census is required. It will tell us the extent to which it (caste) exists … It will help us identify where exactly targeted intervention is needed,” she said.

Patel also said the biggest concern is the enumeration of the OBCs as their exact number has never been known. “OBC is the biggest chunk of our population. We will know the exact number only if counted,” he said.