Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) The Samajwadi Party (SP) said Saturday that it will force adjournments in parliament during the monsoon session beginning next month and launch an agitation if the government does not accept its demand for a caste-based census.
“We will not allow the house to function and launch an agitation if the government does not take an early decision for caste-based census,” SP chief whip in Lok Sabha Shailendra Kumar told IANS.

He accused the government of not fulfilling its assurance to the members on caste-based census.

The three Yadavs - Mulayam Singh Yadav of SP, Lalu Prasad of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal-United - had made a strong demand for caste-based census in the last session. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told the members in Lok Sabha that the government was aware of their views and a decision would be taken by the cabinet.

The issue was later referred to a group of ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The government has indicated that the GoM was likely to give its report before the monsoon session of parliament for the cabinet to take a decision on caste-based census.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that the report is expected to be given before the start of the session in July.

“I think so…in all probability,” Bansal told IANS in reply to a question about GoM giving its report on caste-based census before the session.

The monsoon session is expected to commence in the second half of July. The decision on dates of session will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

There are differences within the Congress and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on the need for a caste-based census.

A group of eminent citizens under the banner “Meri Jati Hindustani” has come out against caste-based census.