One of the most prominent OBC faces of the Congress, Bhupesh Baghel says his government undertook a caste-based headcount before Bihar, and its findings were codified in the form of a legislation to enhance reservation for the OBCs. In an exclusive interview, Baghel says the legislation continues to be pending with the governor, and his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the issue has yielded no response. Baghel says social justice is an effective counter to BJP’s “communal politics”, and that is the reason why “communal groups” are opposing it. Excerpts:
What makes caste census so important?
The Mandal Commission’s report recommended that the members of the Other Backward Classes be granted up to 27 per cent reservation. The total was, at that time, 49.5 per cent for SC, ST and OBC. In the past three decades, there has been an increase in social awareness of the people and there has been a demand for equitable reservations. With the Central government’s decision to bring in reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), it was clear that the 50 per cent mark can be breached. The honourable courts, too, have said the same. As a result, the state governments have taken up their own caste census to provide social justice to all sections of society.
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