Caste-based count to take place in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar

A caste-based ‘count’ rather than a census will be held in Bihar, Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday. The decision was taken after an all-party meeting in the Secretariat.

The Chief Minister said all parties, including the BJP, agreed on a caste count and soon a cabinet decision will be taken and it will be available in the public domain.

Leaders of all nine political parties represented in the Assembly were present in the meeting and gave some important suggestions to the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “It's a caste-based survey, not a census. It's our win. Today we suggested (in the all-party meeting) that social anthropologists should be included in this. Central government should support it financially. This survey is in the interest of people of Bihar.”

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The caste-based census is a long-standing demand for all political parties in the state except the BJP.

Asked about any objection being raised by the BJP during the meeting, Nitish Kumar said: "The leader of BJP was present in the delegation when we went to New Delhi for the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its leaders are present here as well. So there is no confusion or objection from the leader of the saffron party."

The Chief Minister admitted that the meeting for the caste-based census was delayed a bit due to MLC elections coming under local body, and panchayat polls, otherwise it would be done earlier.

"Now, we will speed up and soon bring an entire programme for conducting the caste-based census," he said.