Revanth Reddy hails Union Cabinet’s decision to conduct caste census, credits Rahul Gandhi for it

Telangana CM praises Central government for including caste enumeration in census, credits Rahul Gandhi's vision for the policy change.

Responding to the Union Cabinet’s decision to include caste enumeration as part of the next census, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said it was a proud moment that Rahul Gandhi’s vision had become policy despite being in the Opposition.

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Mr. Reddy stated, “We are proud that the actions of the Telangana government for OBC empowerment have inspired the country, and India has agreed to follow our State’s lead. We congratulate the Central government on deciding to conduct a caste census as part of the next national census. Thank you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Cabinet.”

Mr. Reddy reminded that Telangana was the first State to conduct a caste survey last year, based on Rahul Gandhi’s vision and direction, who had demanded a nationwide caste census during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. “This was the first caste census in independent India, with the last one being conducted by the British in 1931. Our statewide comprehensive Social, Economic, and Caste Survey found that 56.32% of the population belongs to the Backward Castes,” he said. The report was tabled in the Assembly, which proposed 42% reservations for OBCs in education, employment, and political positions.

Recalling the efforts, Mr. Reddy said, “The Telangana Congress took the struggle across the country, including the national capital, and protested at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, seeking the Central government’s agreement for a caste census. Today, we have finally proved that what ‘Telangana does today, India will follow tomorrow’.”

On March 17, the Telangana Assembly passed two key bills providing for 42% reservation for the Backward Classes in government jobs, educational institutions, and local body polls

Several other key leaders from Telangana including Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and TPCC president and MLC B. Mahesh Kumar Goud also hailed the Centre’s decision to conduct the caste census, claiming it as a victory for their efforts.

“The Central government’s decision is a victory for the Telangana government. We had ambitiously undertaken a caste census across the State and passed the Bills increasing reservation by 42 percent for Backward Classes,” Mr. Ponnam Prabhakar said.