Lucknow, May 1 (UNI) Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday claimed that the central government took the decision of caste census under the pressure of PDA (backward, Dalit and minority).
While talking to journalists at the party's state headquarters, Akhilesh warned the BJP government to keep electoral rigging away from caste census. "Only an honest census will give every caste its rights and entitlements in proportion to its population, on which the hegemons were sitting till now. This is the first phase of a positive democratic movement of rights and the last of BJP's negative politics. BJP's hegemonic thinking will surely come to an end," he said.
On the question of putting his face on the picture of Constitution maker Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, he said that the worker who had enthusiastically put this picture has been explained not to tamper with the picture of the great man. He said that if any BJP worker had done this act, then their leader would not have taken any action on it.
The SP chief said that Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav continuously raised the issue of caste census in the Lok Sabha and fought for it. "There was a time when all parties from South to North here had united on the issue of caste census. This is a big victory of long struggles. This is just the beginning. Further debate will be started on other issues including reservation in jobs and employment in private and government institutions," he said.
He said that BJP has a record of rigging. "Everyone has seen BJP's rigging in elections. Everyone is aware of BJP's rigging in the by-elections of Muzaffarnagar, Kundarki Karhal and Milkipur of Ayodhya. We hope that the government will conduct the caste census honestly and true data will be obtained," he said.
Wishing the workers on Labour Day, Akhilesh said that India is facing challenges on many levels of social, economic and mental safety of workers. "Today the traditional definition of workers has become very broad. These include agricultural labourers, MNREGA, labour market labourers, porters, shop labourers, construction labourers and service labourers in the industry sector, as well as those who are educated but are doing the same work as labourers, delivery boys and drivers," he said.
He said, "All of these have the same challenges and issues. The reason for this is record-breaking unemployment, employment problems, working conditions, working hours problems and minimum wages. All this is happening under the BJP government."
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