Wayanad (Kerala) [India], May 4 (ANI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has welcomed the Centre's decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census and expressed the opposition's desire to be involved in the process of making the questionnaire.

Speaking to ANI in Wayanad, she said, 'It's a welcome step provided it is done in a proper manner. As the opposition, we would like to be involved in how the questions are structured. I think some suggestions will be made to the government, and hopefully they'll accept that.'

Meanwhile, Gandhi is on a visit to her constituency Wayanad where she visited the Wayanad Wildlife Division office and handed over an ambulance for the people.

She said, 'They told me that they require it (ambulance) because of animal-man conflict. I am going to see the rehabilitation centre, and then I'll also dedicate an ambulance for the people.'

Earlier today, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as a 'sudden and desperate U-turn' on caste census in India.

Through a social media post, the Congress leader highlighted how the Modi government had previously opposed the idea of a caste-based census.

He referred to three instances that he says clearly show the government's change in stance. In April 2024, Prime Minister Modi, during a television interview, had labeled those demanding a caste census as 'urban naxals.'

Ramesh also recalled that in July 2021, the central government had informed Parliament that it had decided not to collect caste-wise population data, except for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

Taking to social media, X, Jairam Ramesh wrote, 'Evidence abounds on Mr. Modi's sudden, complete, and desperate U-turn on the caste census. Here are just three examples- Last year, on April 28 2024, in a TV interview he branded all those demanding a caste census as 'urban naxals. On July 20, 2021, the Modi Government told Parliament that it had 'decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in the Census.'

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a media briefing following the cabinet meeting that the decision demonstrates the present government's commitment to the holistic interests and values of the nation and society.

The Congress party meanwhile passed a resolution demanding the immediate implementation of clause 5 of Article 15 of the Indian Constitution to enable reservations for Other Backwards Classes (OBCS), Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. The resolution also said that updated caste data must be used to strengthen reservation policies.

Clause 5 of Article 15, which discusses reservations in educational institutions, allows the state to make special provisions 'for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in so far as such special provisions relate to their admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions.' (ANI)