Bihar's caste survey a brave step forward, Maharashtra and other states should follow suit: NCP MLA

NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad hails Bihar caste survey, demands similar exercise in all states. Alleges OBCs' rights being snatched away. Calls for a caste-based census to ensure social justice & empower social programmes. Cong & RJD welcome move, urge Centre to conduct nationwide census.

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad has hailed the Bihar government's caste survey and demanded that a similar exercise be carried out in all states of the country, including Maharashtra, alleging that the rights of the OBCs were being snatched away.

The member of the Maharashtra legislative assembly representing the Mumbra-Kalwa constituency in Thane district made this demand in a video message posted on social media platform X on Monday night.

"Bihar has taken a brave step forward. It took a decision to conduct a caste-based census. And what truth came out of it (caste-based census)? It revealed that the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) comprise 61 per cent of the population. The Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs together form 85 per cent of its population," he said.

"And the truth that came out in Bihar is the truth of the entire India. And therefore we demand...we have always demanded that at least bring out the exact caste-wise population figures. Today, everything is being snatched away from the OBCs," he said.

Even if we consider that the OBCs comprise only 50 per cent of the population, why are they being deprived of reservation, Awhad asked.

What (Bahujan Samaj Party founder) Kanshi Ram said is true. He said, 'Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, uski utni hissedari' (the greater the number, the greater the share). Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had also said that OBCs are the most backward and hence they should get reservation, the NCP leader added.

He alleged that attempts were made to stop the truth of Bihar's caste survey from coming into the public domain.