All party meeting on caste census after assembly elections in five states
All political parties were in favour of the caste census and an all-party meeting would be held in this connection after ongoing assembly elections in five states as several leaders were presently engaged there, he added. Chief Minister said that he was confident of getting full support of all parties in taking decisions on caste census and finalizing its modalities. He was not interested in taking credit for the caste census, so all party meetings would be convened to finalize modalities about how it would be done, Kumar added. ” Leave aside how caste census was conducted in other states, in Bihar, it would be fool proof and its findings would be taken to logical conclusion for the benefits of various schemes to those who needed the most “, Kumar said adding that there was no wrong to wait for few more days as leaders of some parties were busy in assembly elections in five states. Parliament was also in progress, so decision by central leadership of a party to participate in all party meeting on caste census had not been taken, he further added while referring to BJP as decision on the issue had to be taken by its central leadership while all other parties had given their consent to participate in all party meeting to be convened for a formal decision and finalizing modalities on caste census. Chief Minister said that decision on caste-based census could be taken in cabinet meeting as well. But he was in favor of seeking opinion and experience of leaders of all political parties before taking a final decision, he added. Kumar said that those raising the issue of caste census again were silent but they had started talking about it again as session of Bihar Legislature was to begin soon, an oblique reference to leader of the opposition and other RJD leaders. All precautions would be taken to ensure no one could be left out in caste census, he further said adding that caste census was needed to know about those who still lagged behind to taste fruit of development and prosperity.