Nitish Kumar says committed to conduct caste census, seeks political consensus

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday asserted that caste based census being demanded by his party, the JD(U) will benefit all sections of the society and he will convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss the holding of such an exercise in the state.

Caste census is one of the oldest demands of JD(U), an ally of the BJP and the government will seek a political consensus before taking up the exercise, he said at his weekly public outreach programme. Although all political parties in the state are united over the issue, I want to discuss with them about the modalities of conducting this exercise … There is no political angle to the demand.

It is completely a social concern.

A caste census will benefit all sections of the society, Kumar said. Speaking on the importance of the proposed census, he said that it will enable the government to work for development of various sections of the society. “We will start it very soon. The exercise will be foolproof and once it is completed, the government will act on it accordingly.