Caste census across country after coming to power in Centre, says Ponnam Prabhakar

HYDERABAD: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has said that the Congress will conduct a caste census across the country after coming to power at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ponnam said, "Rahul Gandhi told on several occasions that when Congress comes to power in the country, caste census will be done to do justice to weaker sections. The manifesto of Telangana Congress promised to take up a BC caste census after coming to power. There was a discussion with the Chief Minister on this issue recently. A Bill on BC caste enumeration will be introduced in the upcoming Assembly sessions. We will ask for suggestions from professors, intellectuals and BC associations."

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Reacting to BRS MLC Kavitha's request to install a statue of social reformer Jyoti Rao Phule in the Assembly, Ponnam Prabhakar said, "She should choose her words wisely. Why didn't the BRS remember Phule in the last 10 years? Why didn't BRS didn't honour Phule for ten years? They should talk about social justice only when they had given posts to SCs, STs and BCs. Kavitha is just using Phule for scoring political brownie points as she is not busy with the liquor case she has been named in."

Speaking at the meeting, newly elected MLC Mahesh Goud said, "We will always work for BC's share. We will keep our word on the BC caste census. Why did Kavitha wake up now after being in power for 10 years? Why didn't she install a statue of Phule then?"

Meanwhile former MP Madhu Yashki Goud said that the BJP and the BRS are against a caste census and development of backward classes. Will you support the BRS which is supporting the BJP? It is up to the people to decide."