Salient points of press conference of Hon'ble Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan

Salient Points of Press Conference of Union Minister and Senior BJP Leader Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has made a historic decision to conduct caste enumeration along with the national census. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji

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The caste-based census will be conducted with complete transparency, keeping in mind the economic and social interests of all sections of society. Prior to this, the Modi government had already made a decision to empower economically backward classes by providing 10% reservation

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Today, Rahul Gandhi, who is eager to take credit for the caste-based census, should answer why it was never conducted during Congress' rule. Congress’ true face is different, always hiding behind a false mask

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Today, Rahul Gandhi is asking for the date of the caste-based census. Should the date be decided based on his inquiry and the opposition’s demands? The date will be set, the caste census will take place, and it will be used for the greater benefit of the nation and society

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Now, Rahul Gandhi is claiming that ‘real development’ will begin. So, what did the Congress government achieve during its 60 years in power?

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Rahul Gandhi should take tuitions to read the Constitution, because Rahul Gandhi is saying that caste census has been done in Telangana, whereas a survey has been conducted there.

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Rahul Gandhi's Congress party’s vision has always been about dividing society, while the Modi government is progressing with the resolve of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas’

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Congress and the INDI alliance are scrambling to take credit for the caste-based census, even though Pt. Nehru himself opposed it, and Congress had suppressed the Kaka Kalelkar Report

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During the time of the Mandal Commission, Indira Gandhi opposed the report, the then Home Minister Giani Zail Singh rejected the demand for caste enumeration, and Rajiv Gandhi was also not in favor. The UPA government only delayed the matter by assuring that it would be discussed in the Cabinet

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Union Minister and senior BJP leader Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday. During the conference, Shri Chouhan hailed Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for the historic decision to conduct a caste census nationwide. He emphasized that the census would be carried out transparently and would serve the greater good of society. Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shri Chouhan said that the Congress did nothing for the Dalits, backward classes, and the underprivileged during its 60 years in power. He added that Rahul Gandhi is now lying for credit, even though Congress did nothing for Dalits, backward classes, and the underprivileged during its 60 years in power.

Shri Chouhan said that under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has taken a historic step by approving caste enumeration along with the national census. The process will be conducted with full transparency, keeping in mind the social and economic welfare of all sections of society. Earlier, when Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's government granted 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS), it empowered the underprivileged without causing any unrest in the country. Similarly, the caste census will be carried out in the spirit of social justice, guided by the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas’ for the welfare of every section of society.

Union Minister Shri Chouhan stated that Congress and INDI alliance leaders are now scrambling for credit over the caste census decision. Why did the Congress fail to conduct a caste census during its decades in power? He highlighted that former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in a letter to Chief Ministers, had openly opposed caste-based reservations, a letter that remains part of official records. The Congress suppressed the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report, which was meant to address the concerns of backward communities.

Shri Chouhan said that during the 1980s, when the Mandal Commission was introduced, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opposed its recommendations. VP Mandal’s demand for a caste census was outrightly rejected by the then Home Minister Giani Zail Singh. Rahul Gandhi should recall Rajiv Gandhi’s stance, which was also against a caste-based count. Even during the UPA regime, with Sonia Gandhi as the real power center and Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, the government only promised to consider caste census in a cabinet meeting. Though a Group of Ministers was formed, no caste census took place. Instead, only the SECC survey was conducted and that too was filled with errors. Where was the Congress then?

Union Minister Shri Chouhan criticized the Congress, saying that deception and spreading misinformation is in the party’s DNA. In 1971, the Congress gave the slogan “Garibi Hatao,” but instead of eliminating poverty, the poor themselves were removed. The Congress party made false promises like loan waivers, free electricity, and unemployment allowances, which were never fulfilled. Congress remains inactive while in power and starts making demands only when in opposition.

Shri Chouhan remarked that Rahul Gandhi’s words and actions are like an elephant’s tusks, different for show and different for use. He demanded answers from Rahul Gandhi as to why the Congress never carried out a caste census during its rule. Congress’ fake face always gets exposed while its real intentions remain hidden. Under BJP rule, the caste census will be conducted transparently, focusing on the welfare of all communities without creating social tensions. Accurate data will serve as the foundation for inclusive development and policy-making.

Union Minister Shri Chouhan criticized Rahul Gandhi for claiming that real development will now begin, questioning what the Congress government did over the past 60 years. Rahul Gandhi is saying that caste-based enumeration has happened in Telangana, but in reality, it was not a census but a survey. He suggested that Rahul Gandhi should take tuitions for understanding the Constitution.

Shri Chouhan remarked that Rahul Gandhi has been asking about the date of caste-based enumeration. Will the date be set according to his or the opposition's request? That the date will be set, the caste census will take place, and its data will be used for the collective benefit of society. Today, Rahul Gandhi is talking about vision, but the vision of Congress has always been to divide society, while under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the BJP government is progressing with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas.’ Caste-based enumeration is not about caste politics but is the foundational pillar of good governance. It is an effort to provide justice to every section of society, which will be carried out in a fully transparent manner.

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