Shah’s remark comes against the backdrop of the BJP leadership accusing Congress of trying to “divide and rule” by pushing for a caste census.
Congress leaders, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have demanded to know why the BJP-led government at the Centre appears opposed to a caste census.
Chhattisgarh assembly polls 2023: Caste-based census will begin in two hours if voted to power at Centre, says Rahul Gandhi
The home minister told reporters after releasing BJP’s manifesto for the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh that the party would take “the appropriate” decision on a caste census after “consulting everyone”.
On Congress’ 17 guarantees, including a caste census, he said that “contesting polls on this basis is not right”. “We are a national party, and we don’t do politics of votes on this issue,” Shah said.
Kharge said at a public meeting recently that Congress-governed Karnataka had already initiated the process for a caste census and would release its report soon. He promised a similar exercise in Chhattisgarh if the party retains the reins of government in the two-phase election starting November 7.