Mindful of strong feelings on the subject of some its allies, the Congress changed track, saying it would decide on the issue after consulting its allies.
NEW DELHI: The Congress party continues to tie itself in knots on the issue of caste-based census. For the second time in three days, the party changed its stand on the vexed issue. On Monday, the party opposed the idea of a caste-based census. However, by Wednesday, perhaps mindful of the strong feelings on the subject of some its allies, the Congress changed track, saying it would decide on the issue after consulting its allies.
The lack of clarity in the Congress camp is all the more glaring as it comes days ahead of the UPA meeting on the issue. Left to itself, the Congress party appears inclined to exercise the option of filing a review petition before the Supreme Court. However the allies, particularly the DMK and other Tamil Nadu-based parties, have been pressing the centre for a caste-based census.
The Congress party has obviously not applied its mind to the issue and appears unaware of the fact that Digvijay Singh, as Chief Minister of MP, had written to the Home Ministry during the NDA rule demanding a caste-based census, but the idea was turned down by the then Home Minister L K Advani.
The idea of having a caste-based census is a controversial one and is bound to be opposed by BJP. The party has consistently opposed the idea on the grounds that it will divide society. Significantly, the CPI(M) is also opposed to the idea of a caste-based census . The issue was deliberated at length at the recently-concluded Central Committee and Politburo meeting. The CPI(M)'s view is that a caste-based census is not necessary since most of the states have compiled a separate list of OBCs and these could be provided to the Supreme Court.
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