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The timing could not have been more inappropriate. Even as a literate family in Jharkhand was in the focus for the suspected murder of its daughter who was in love with a boy from a lower caste, the major political parties were demanding the inclusion of 'caste' as a criterion in the census which is underway.
A considerable section of the Opposition, mainly comprising the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, has demanded the inclusion of caste in the ongoing census.
They have accused the government of 'suppressing the reality of the backward class percentage going up by not allowing a caste-based census that has not been carried out since 1931, to know the real number of the Other Backward Classes', the belief being the OBCs are not getting their due share in terms of reservation since their latest count is not available.
Reports suggest that even the Union Cabinet is divided on the question.
Given the political exigencies of running a fragile coalition, the government could come around to accepting the demand -- which would be a blow against all striving for and believing in a caste-less India.
What do you feel about the caste demand? How will its inclusion in the census impact the creation of a cohesive India which, 63 years after independence, is not yet a reality? Share your thoughts on the message board below: