http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-dragging-its-feet-on-caste-count-Sharad-Yadav/articleshow/6149544.cms
Govt dragging its feet on caste count: Sharad Yadav TNN, Jul 10, 2010, 03.22am IST NEW DELHI: With the monsoon session of Parliament round the corner, the politics over caste census intensified further on Friday with JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav castigating the government for dragging its feet over the issue. Yadav, who played a key role in mobilising support from political parties in Parliament in favour of caste census, said that he had written to Congress leader and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to explain the government's reluctance even in the face of, as he said, political consensus over the need for such a census. "By dragging its feet on inclusion of caste in census, the Centre is showing its lack of commitment for a just society because without proper caste data we cannot remove caste disparities and caste system," he said. Mukerjee heads the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the caste census. "I have said in my letter that I would not like to repeat what transpired between us when Parliament was on. I just want to remind you that there was an agreement on caste census," Yadav said, as he further elaborated on how the government had developed cold feet after initially almost committing to caste census. Terming the formation of GoM as unwarranted, Yadav said it was meant only to waste time. "This is yet another delaying tactic by the government. Almost all political parties have given their views in the Lok Sabha," he said. Indicating that the issue will be raised in the monsoon session of Parliament, Yadav said there was no scope for further deliberation on caste census and that he was shocked at the attitude of the government. However, Yadav also demanded setting up of a commission "to eradicate caste system" in the society. He brushed aside suggestions that there was a contradiction in his stand saying that inclusion of caste in census would actually help in eradicating caste bias in society. He said that the government seemed to be under the influence of "conservative elements, which do not want a just society in India".
