Indore: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday said the RPI(A) under his leadership supports conducting caste census in the country and believes that a viable solution should be identified.
Speaking to reporters in Indore, Athawale wondered whether Article 17 of the Constitution, which outlaws casteism, complicates the feasibility of conducting a caste-based census.
"My party demands that some way out should be found because once the caste-based census is conducted, we will know the percentage of each caste in the population," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said.
Athawale further said that if future decisions include giving reservation benefits to every caste based on their population share, his party would not oppose it while acknowledging the existence of poverty among all castes.
Taking aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Athawale asked, "I want to ask Gandhi that when there was a Congress government at the Centre, why was the caste census not conducted?"
Addressing the concerns regarding the NEET exam, the Union Minister assured that the Education Ministry is taking all necessary measures to prevent any irregularities in future entrance exams.
Athawale claimed that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 170 to 180 seats out of 288 in the Maharashtra Assembly elections to be held in October this year.
He said, "In Maharashtra elections, not the issue of Constitution but the issue of development will work. We will correct the mistakes made (in the Lok Sabha elections) and enter the electoral fray."
Speaking to reporters in Indore, Athawale wondered whether Article 17 of the Constitution, which outlaws casteism, complicates the feasibility of conducting a caste-based census.
"My party demands that some way out should be found because once the caste-based census is conducted, we will know the percentage of each caste in the population," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said.
Athawale further said that if future decisions include giving reservation benefits to every caste based on their population share, his party would not oppose it while acknowledging the existence of poverty among all castes.
Taking aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Athawale asked, "I want to ask Gandhi that when there was a Congress government at the Centre, why was the caste census not conducted?"
Addressing the concerns regarding the NEET exam, the Union Minister assured that the Education Ministry is taking all necessary measures to prevent any irregularities in future entrance exams.
Athawale claimed that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 170 to 180 seats out of 288 in the Maharashtra Assembly elections to be held in October this year.
He said, "In Maharashtra elections, not the issue of Constitution but the issue of development will work. We will correct the mistakes made (in the Lok Sabha elections) and enter the electoral fray."
