HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud has called on the Union government to clearly announce when a nationwide caste-based census will be conducted. Speaking in Hyderabad on Wednesday morning, Goud said the central government must act with sincerity if it truly supports the rights of Backward Classes (BCs).
He challenged the BJP to demonstrate its commitment by introducing and passing a bill in Parliament granting 42% reservation to BC communities. Goud also demanded the repeal of the existing 50% cap on reservations through new legislation.
Goud credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for pushing the issue of caste census at the national level, calling it a result of his unwavering commitment to social justice. He criticised Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay for opposing the Telangana caste survey, describing their stance as “negative-minded.”
He also accused BJP leaders of colluding with the BRS to run a negative campaign against the state government, pointing out that despite such opposition, the Telangana Legislative Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution in favour of the caste census—with all eight BJP MLAs present and supporting it.
“Telangana has become the first state in the country to complete a caste census, setting an example for others to follow,” Goud said, urging the Centre to follow suit and formalise a plan for a national enumeration.