Bihar Assembly favours caste-based census in 2021 in one voice

Two days after expressing a united resolve that National Population Register exercise be done strictly according to 2010 format minus new contentious clauses, Bihar Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution favouring caste-based census in 2021.

Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary read out proposal to this effect in pre-lunch session which was approved by all members by thumping of desks.

Like on Tuesday, BJP with over 50 MLAs in state, where it is sharing power with JD(U), backed resolution in favour of inclusion of caste in upcoming population enumeration job.

all-party resolution in favour of caste-based census received House d for second time in just over a year.

Bihar Assembly had on February 18 last year passed a unanimous resolution for carrying out caste census.

Such an exercise was last conducted in 1931.

"... This is an appropriate time when House should convey its sentiments to authorities concerned for a caste-based census... proposed census 2021 be conducted on caste basis," Choudhary said.

He said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had made a proposal for a resolution in support of caste-based census during debate on adjournment motion on Tuesday on Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) in assembly, which found support from all or political parties in House.

While February 25 resolution covered NRC and NPR issues, one during day fervently asked for inclusion of information about questionee's caste during census exercise.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi has already said updating of NPR will be carried out in state from May 15-28.

Prominent leaders of Bihar like Kumar, RJD president Lalu Prasad and Sushil Modi are on same p on issue of caste-based census.

Making a strong pitch for inclusion of caste in new population counting work, Prasad had in December last tweeted, "Billions would be splurged on so-called NPR, NRC and Indian Census of 2021. Have learnt that NPR forms have numerous columns. n, why is re a problem in adding one more column for caste?"

Kumar has also been a strong votary of caste-based census.

Im Credits: PTI