New Delhi, June 17 (UNI) The Congress on Tuesday slammed the Modi government for what it called a deliberate “delay in conducting a caste census”, accusing it of politicising the issue to divert public attention — much like the women's reservation bill.

Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot, while addressing a press conference here, said that the demand for a caste census, led prominently by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, has long been a priority for the Congress, and the government has only "yielded to this pressure in principle, not in action".

"The Modi government is simply managing headlines, not genuinely addressing the issue," Pilot said, adding that the formal notification lacks any mention of a “caste-based enumeration”.

“The government has claimed that the caste census will begin in 2027, but concerns are growing due to the glaring budgetary shortfall. Only Rs 574 crore has been allocated, whereas such a massive exercise requires at least Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crore,” Pilot alleged.

Accusing the central government of lacking both intent and commitment, Pilot said, "The objective is not just to collect data on an individual's caste but to understand the living conditions of these families and create policies to substantially improve their livelihoods." Without tangible data, no state or central government can implement targeted interventions, which is what we aimed to achieve."

“Initially, they labelled us "Urban Naxals" and refused to accept these demands. Now, sensing the country's mood, they have accepted the proposal in principle. However, there seems to be considerable confusion and dissatisfaction regarding it,” Pilot said.

He again urged the Centre to emulate the “Telangana model” at the national level, claiming that the state had successfully conducted a comprehensive caste survey using NGOs and technical experts instead of overburdened government staff.

Pilot also demanded a clear roadmap, sufficient funding, and transparency in the execution of the census.

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