Mallikarjun Kharge seeks deadline, hike in Rs 550-crore fund allocation

Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday asked the union government to provide sufficient allocation of grants for the Census and fix a time limit for the exercise, which he said must start at the earliest.

“They have allocated just Rs 550 crore for the (Census), which isn’t sufficient. The allocation should increase. Also, there must be a time limit,” Kharge told reporters here. 

Kharge maintained that the Modi administration announced the enumeration of castes in the Census under pressure created by Congress. 

“On April 16, 2023, I wrote to PM Modi and requested him on this. He didn’t consider it. I spoke about this when I was in the Lower House (Lok Sabha) as well,” Kharge said.

“Only because Congress upped the ante and calls grew louder in districts and states, this government has taken this decision.” 

Kharge also said that the government should have acknowledged the fact that the Opposition had demanded a caste census.

“Still, it’s a good thing and we will fully cooperate with this. But they (BJP) should not comment unnecessarily on Jawaharlal Nehru, saying he was opposed to it, this and that,” he said.

Kharge charged that the Jan Sangh and RSS were against reservation. “You are fundamentally against reservations for SCs. You shouldn’t be lecturing us,” he said. 

When asked about the timing of the Centre’s decision, Kharge said: “I don’t think the caste census was announced keeping the Bihar election in mind. I don’t want to get into politics. Whatever is good, I welcome. Whatever is bad, I oppose. The country and its people are important.”