The Bihar government is poised to introduce the extensive findings of the caste survey, encompassing the socio-economic profiles of diverse demographic segments, in both chambers of the state legislature on Tuesday. This significant development was announced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary during his statement on Monday.
Addressing the press outside the assembly, the esteemed leader of the JD(U) expressed strong disapproval of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s allegations that the caste survey had been manipulated to portray “inflated” statistics related to the Yadav and Muslim communities. Choudhary underscored that Shah’s assertions, made at a recent BJP rally in Muzaffarpur, lacked logical coherence and were unbecoming of a public figure in such a responsible position. He further challenged Shah to elucidate the basis of his claims, emphasizing that if the Home Minister believed the figures in the caste survey to be inaccurate, he should provide an alternative set of accurate figures. Choudhary questioned the methodology employed by Shah in making such an estimate.
In his critique, Choudhary asserted that while the BJP often emphasizes its commitment to transcending casteism, Shah’s recent remarks represented an alarming attempt to exploit social divisions for political gain by explicitly naming specific communities. Choudhary also highlighted that the state government had undertaken the survey only after it became apparent that the central government was reluctant to conduct a comprehensive caste census.
The presentation of the comprehensive caste survey report in the Bihar Assembly is a significant event, with the state government facing off against allegations of data manipulation from the Union Home Minister. This development highlights the intricate dynamics of politics in the region, where issues of caste and community continue to play a crucial role.
