Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 1 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader CR Kesavan attacked Congress on Thursday, saying that the latter only looks at the exercise of caste census as just a 'prejudiced political tool for exploiting deprived sections,' and highlighted that despite being in power for decades, the Congress-led governments never conducted their own caste census.

'For the Congress party caste census has always been a prejudiced political tool for exploiting the deprived sections. Jawaharlal Nehru never conducted caste census. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi never conducted caste census. They were always opposed to the welfare of the disadvantaged sections. It was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi today who's taken the decisive decision to ensure that the caste census will be conducted with the national census,' Kesavan told ANI in Chennai.

He claimed that the Congress has been 'rattled' with the announcement of the nationwide caste census, as the party never conducted a caste census despite being in power for decades.

'The Congress party today is rattled because they've been exposed till now, though they've been in power for decades, they never did the cast census because the Congress party has always been opposed to the welfare of the disadvantaged sections. Right from Nehru's days when they opposed Kaka Kalelkar Commission recommending reservations for backward classes, but they got constitutional status only after Modi became PM, it was done in 2018,' he said.

The Kaka Kalekar Commission, also known as First Backward Classes Commission was set up in 1953, and was tasked with identifying socially and educationally backward sections of society. The Commission submitted its report in 1955.

Kesavan further said that the decision of the Cabinet Committee to conduct a caste enumeration exercise with the national census is a 'historic' one, and is testament to the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar, adding, 'For this historic decision. Which will secure a strong foundation and edifice for Vikit Bharat. Today's decision is testament to Narendra Modi's steadfast resolve and commitment to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.'

Calling the style of Congress' governance as 'discriminatory and divisive,' he contrasted it with the Central government's motto of 'sabka sath sabka vikas.'

'The difference between Congress and Prime Minister Modi is the Congress governance has always been discriminatory and divisive. PM Modi's governance is sabka sath sabka vikas (development for everyone, with everyone) because it is compassionate and inclusive governance. For the Congress party, talking about caste census is political rhetoric for political profit, but today's decision by the Prime Minister will ensure precision public policy, which will pave way for inclusive and compassionate governance,' the BJP leader told ANI.

In a significant decision, the central government decided that caste enumeration will be included in the forthcoming national census. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had informed while informing about the decisions made by the cabinet. The Congress has also extended support for the exercise, but had said that the census is '11 years too late.'

Other states, such as Bihar, Karnataka, Telangana have also conducted their own caste census before. (ANI)