Maharashtra's Chhagan Bhujbal calls for country-wide caste census

Maharashtra Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday said a caste-based census should be conducted in the country that will benefit OBCs as they are not getting the central funds from the Centre like SCs and STs.

Bhujbal chaired a meeting of leaders of Samta Parishad, which works for OBC citizens, in Mumbai.

"Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister of the country for the third time. Now, we are going to demand them to conduct a caste-wise census. If it is done, it will shed light on various issues of OBCs. We will not only understand the population but also the situation of OBCs. Therefore, the funds from the central government, which are now available only to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, will also be available to OBCs. But for that, a census should be done", said Chhagan Bhujbal after the meeting.

Bhujbal added a census at the state level would not be beneficial. "If this census is done only at the state level, we would only get information. However, the central funds will not be available," Bhujbal said.

Speaking further, he also commented on the ongoing hunger strike by the OBC leaders.

"Some people in the state are on hunger strike for OBCs. We have requested them to withdraw. We will be talking to the lawyers in the next two days. We have also prepared some documents. If there is injustice to any OBC, we will take appropriate steps in this regard", Bhujbal added.