NEW DELHI, June 17: Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday lashed out at the BJP-led Central government for its continued delay and lack of transparency in conducting a caste-based census, calling it a “deliberate attempt to dodge the demand for social justice.”
Speaking at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Pilot backed Rahul Gandhi’s long-standing call for a nationwide caste census, calling it an “X-ray of the nation” that is essential to understand the real demographic and socio-economic status of different caste groups across India.
Pilot criticised the recently issued Census notification, which sets the process to begin only in 2027 and fails to mention caste enumeration explicitly. “This is not just a delay — it’s a denial,” he said. “Without up-to-date caste data, government policies targeting marginalised communities remain incomplete and ineffective.”
Citing Telangana’s model caste survey as a benchmark, Pilot praised the state’s transparent and expert-led approach, suggesting the Centre should adopt a similar framework. He also raised concerns over the starkly low budgetary allocation for the upcoming Census — just ₹570 crore, as opposed to the usual ₹8,000–10,000 crore needed for a comprehensive national count.
“The intent of the government is questionable when the budget doesn’t match the scale of the task,” Pilot said, adding that the BJP initially mocked the demand and only agreed under public and political pressure.
He dismissed claims that caste enumeration would increase casteism. “It is a step towards equity, not division,” he said. “Just like women’s reservation, the BJP delayed the caste census for years before finally relenting under pressure.”
Calling for an end to what he termed “delay tactics,” Pilot urged the Centre to come clean on its intentions, increase funding, and carry out the caste census with professionalism and integrity.
