CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai on Thursday joined opposition parties to urge state govt to conduct a caste survey akin to Telangana. The DMK, however, reiterated its stance that Union govt is responsible for conducting a caste census alongside the national census, recalling a resolution passed unanimously in the legislature last year.
Participating in the debate, the Congress leader pointed to BJP-led Union govt’s perceived lack of interest in a caste census and the Supreme Court’s stay on state govt-led exercises in the past. He cited the Congress’s decision to pursue caste surveys to support socio-economic development of the communities, citing Telangana as an example.
“Telangana’s Congress govt just did that. We urge the chief minister to undertake a caste survey,” the TNCC president said. Chief minister M K Stalin was not present when the member was pressing the demand.
There was an intense debate involving PMK, BJP, TVK, and AIADMK, with arguments focusing on the necessity for caste data, the authority to conduct such surveys, and the implications for reservation policies.
PMK floor leader G K Mani stressed the need for caste data, linking it to education and employment opportunities. He argued that caste-based disparities can only be addressed through economic empowerment, advocating for reservation policies based on this data.
Backward classes welfare minister Siva V Meyyanathan emphasized the Centre’s authority to conduct the census under the Census Act, stating that the CM already addressed the issue with Prime Minister. He attributed delays to Union govt.
“If a caste census is undertaken along with the national census, all your questions will be answered,” the minister said, asking PMK leader to press its ally BJP to do the needful.
BJP floor leader Nainar Nagendran responded, citing errors in state-conducted censuses that led to court interventions in the past. He pointed to the variations in caste classifications across states.
“There is a lot of confusion as to who should take it up. The state and Union govts could discuss and take a decision,” he said.
When TVK MLA T Velmurugan argued that Tamil Nadu could follow Telangana’s example in conducting a caste survey and increasing reservations, transport minister S S Sivasankar countered this, asserting that only the Centre with its dedicated census department, should undertake such a task.
Former AIADMK minister R B Udayakumar said the existing quota was protected under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution by late CM J Jayalalithaa.