In the wake of the Bihar government's recent release of findings from a caste census, a similar demand has been voiced by the opposition in Maharashtra. Vijay Wadettiwar, the Leader of the Opposition, has called upon the Mahayuti government led by Eknath Shinde to announce a time-bound plan for conducting a comprehensive caste-wise census, drawing inspiration from Bihar's recent census.
Wadettiwar underscores the significance of a caste-wise census, especially in addressing the unresolved issues pertaining to reservations faced by various communities in Maharashtra. He asserts that this initiative is pivotal for effectively resolving these issues.
In recent times, there has been a growing chorus of calls for a caste-wise census in Maharashtra, mirroring Bihar's approach. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis has indicated that they are closely monitoring the progress of the Bihar census and plan to study its model before proceeding with their own.
The Congress leader commends the Bihar government for unveiling the findings of its long-anticipated caste survey and highlights Rahul Gandhi's consistent advocacy for such a census.
Furthermore, Wadettiwar raises questions about the Maharashtra government's apparent reluctance to undertake this essential endeavor. He questions whether the government believes there are no OBC (Other Backward Classes) Hindus in the state while engaging in Hindutva politics. He stresses that OBCs should rightfully enjoy the benefits of reservation and expresses concern that the government may be avoiding this critical issue.
Wadettiwar points out that a caste-wise census was conducted in 2011 during the Congress era, collecting data on each caste. Rahul Gandhi demanded the disclosure of this information to ensure the continuation of reservation in local self-government bodies. However, he criticizes the government for what he perceives as a delay in addressing this matter.
He further criticizes the government for adopting a contradictory approach, organizing the OBC Janajagaran Yatra while avoiding a caste-based census.
It is worth noting that there has been a particularly strong demand for reservations from the Maratha, Dhangar, and Muslim communities in Maharashtra.
The Bihar caste census unveiled that OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and EBCs (Extremely Backward Classes) constitute a significant 63 percent of the state's total population. Bihar's overall population slightly exceeded 13.07 crores, with the EBCs (36 percent) emerging as the largest social segment, followed by the OBCs (27.13 percent).
Yadavs represented the most significant segment of the population, accounting for 14.27 percent of the total. Dalits comprised 19.65 percent of the population, while those categorized as 'unreserved' constituted 15.52 percent.
Bihar's population is predominantly Hindu, with the majority community making up 81.99 percent of the total, followed by Muslims at 17.70 percent.
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