Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, unveiled the Congress platform for the upcoming Assembly elections on Sunday, pledging that if the party wins back control, the state would conduct a caste-based census.
“We pledge to conduct a caste census in the state if voted back. The census exercise would cover the Scheduled Caste, tribal castes, backward classes, general category and minorities,” Baghel announced after unveiling the party’s manifesto in Raipur on Sunday.
He said a caste-based census would enable people from the backward and underprivileged sections to derive the benefits of welfarist schemes and initiatives.
“A census of this kind will not only bring the backward classes to the forefront of the government’s welfarist priorities but also help us conceive and implement schemes for them. A caste census is the need of the hour,” CM Baghel said.
If elected again, the Congress has pledged in the manifesto to purchase rice at the rate of Rs 3200 per quintal under the “Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.”
Earlier, on Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP isn’t opposed to a caste-based census and will take a call on the same after discussions within the party.