'This will empower weaker sections': Amit Shah on caste census

NEW DELHI: BJP and other constituents of NDA Tuesday hailed Modi govt's announcement of caste enumeration in the next census as historic and a reflection of its commitment to social equality .

Home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J P Nadda and a host of other leaders, including the party's OBC faces, lauded PM Modi, with agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan describing it as an unprecedented development towards the cause of social justice .

"This decision will empower all economically and socially backward classes, promote inclusion, and pave new paths for the progress of deprived," Shah posted on X in Hindi.

Singh said the decision will empower those who have been exploited and deprived, whereas Nadda said it is an important step to bring into the mainstream castes that are lagging behind socially, economically and educationally.

Chouhan criticised Congress for not conducting caste enumeration, questioning, "Who suppressed Kaka Kalelkar's report? What was Congress's position when Mandal Commission report was presented? Congress has always opposed caste census ."

BJP allies were unanimous in greeting Modi govt's announcement. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar hailed the development as a matter of "great happiness", while TDP chief CM N Chandrababu Naidu said it underscored PM Modi's "deep commitment" to inclusive governance. Sena's Eknath Shinde called it a "decisive step" towards achieving genuine social justice in India.