'Caste-Based Count' Will Be Held in Set Time Frame in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar

Kumar clarified that it is a caste-based "count" rather than a "census" to avoid legal complications.

File photo of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

(Photo: PTI) 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday, 1 June, that the state government will conduct a caste-based count in a set time frame and a cabinet will be decided before the final announcement.

Kumar clarified that his government is working on a caste-based "count" rather than a "census" to avoid legal complications, as per NDTV.

He added that the decision to hold a caste-based count was a unanimous decision. Kumar said, “In the meeting we unanimously decided that a caste-based census will be done in a set time frame. Soon a cabinet decision will be taken and it will be available in the public domain.”

The chief minister's decision comes after the all-party meet regarding the issue in Patna.

RJD's Tejashwi Yadav Hails Move

Hailing Kumar’s announcement, leader of Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav called it a ‘win’ and demanded the Centre to financially support the ‘survey,’ reported ANI.

He said, “It's a caste-based survey, not a census. It's our win. Today we suggested (in the all-party meeting) that social anthropologists should be included in this. Central govt should support it financially.”

Tejashwi, who threatened to hold a march from Patna to Delhi in case the caste-based census is not conducted, said on Wednesday, that the survey is in the interest of the people of Bihar.

(With inputs from ANI, NDTV.)