Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel, who leads the Apna Dal (Soneylal), has been demanding a caste census, in Parliament as well as at meetings of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Patel, a key BJP ally in Uttar Pradesh, has argued that the caste enumeration is needed to address social and economic inequalities. A day after the Union Cabinet approved caste enumeration during the next Census, Patel talks to The Indian Express about the political ramifications of the move, the Congress’s demand that the government provide a timeframe to complete the exercise, and the Opposition’s narrative that it pushed the government to take the step. Excerpts: * What do you think will be the impact of the caste census? Patel: The impact will be seen and felt in many ways. The caste structure is age-old and caste-based discrimination is a reality in our society. It has persisted and we have adjusted to it because caste is a reality and critical to our social setup. But if you want the nation to grow, we have to address the social inequalities for which a caste census is required. It will tell us the extent to which it (caste) exists … It will help us identify where exactly targeted intervention is needed. There are so many castes and communities among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the Scheduled Castes (SCs), but they are still not recognised. They have an identity crisis. When the enumeration begins, these castes will get over the identity crisis. The biggest concern is the enumeration of the OBCs, their number has never been known. OBC is the biggest chunk of our population. We will know the exact number only if counted. The government policies and programmes, including the welfare schemes, are designed based on outdated data. We need fresh data and when we have updated data, our policy will be more accurate. * The Opposition is claiming to have pushed the government to announce the caste census. What is your reaction? Patel: The Opposition is left with nothing on their hands now. This was an issue for a long time. The Congress and the UPA were in power for the longest period. Most of the parties in the INDIA alliance were also part of these governments. If you had clarity of intent and you were passionate about it, why did you not do it when you had a chance? These parties were in power in the states, too. The Samajwadi Party was in power four times (in Uttar Pradesh) . Three times under Mulayam Singh Yadav and once under Akhilesh Yadav. Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was in power in Bihar and they were part of the UPA government. They could have done it at the state level and also at the national level. You had too many opportunities. PM Modi got only one chance. As NDA allies, we have been raising it at every forum. NDA partners made it possible. * Should there be a timeframe for conducting the caste census? The Congress has demanded one, asking the government, ‘Deadline kaha hai (where is the deadline?’ Patel: The first issue was to decide on whether there should be caste enumeration. It is done. The government has to work on the technical details. We do not want methodological errors that happened under the UPA. I just want to tell the Opposition that we will not take six decades (to conduct a caste census). There is a timeframe and the government has prepared it. It will be known at the appropriate time. * Will this decision have an impact on the 2027 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh?’ Patel: We have not taken the decision keeping elections in mind. Uttar Pradesh is a state where OBCs dominate the population. We have more than 52% OBCs and more than 22% SCs and Scheduled Tribes. It is not about Uttar Pradesh, though. It is a sentiment of the marginalised communities across the states. You need not connect it with the elections. * But hasn’t the BJP taken the step to consolidate its OBC support? How will it affect your party? Patel: Since its inception, my party has been raising the caste census issue. Even when the BJP leaders did not speak, we spoke about it. We were part of the government, but I have raised it in Parliament many times. My voters know about our stance. * There is an argument that the caste enumeration could further divide society. Patel: It is not true. If you want to build a more equitable society, we have to do away with caste-based discrimination. National integration will be achieved when those who were left behind for ages are taken care of. You have to reach them and take your policies there. * Did the BJP consult you before announcing the decision? Patel: We have raised and spoken about it (caste census) several times. I have taken it up at different levels and spoken to top leaders about it.
