Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday welcomed the central government’s decision to include the caste census in the upcoming national census, saying it was a historic moment in defending the state’s groundbreaking efforts under Congress.
In a statement released on social media platform X, Reddy attributed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi first raised the demand for a national caste census during Bharat Jodo Yatra. He said that under the guidance of this vision, Telangana became the first state in India to conduct a comprehensive social, economic and caste survey in 2023, the first such exercise since the British-led census in 1931.
The survey shows that 56.32% of the Telangana population belong to the backward caste (OBC). Based on these findings, the state government has proposed 42% of OBC reservations in education, employment and political representation, a resolution proposed in Telangana’s legislative assembly.
“Today, we finally prove what Telangana has done today and India will follow tomorrow,” Reddy said. “It’s a time of pride that even in the opposition, Rahul Gandhi’s vision has become a national policy.”
The Chief Minister noted that Telangana Congress also held a protest to Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding that the centre conduct a caste census.
Reddy congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the union cabinet for making the centre’s decision, saying the move marks a step forward in OBC empowerment across India.
