Spokespersons: Dr. Anil Jaihind, National President of the OBC Department, and Party Secretary Subhashini Sharad Yadav: Accusing the Modi government of a deep-rooted conspiracy, the Congress stated that the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category has been deliberately omitted from the caste census initiated in the country. The Party asserted that the failure to include a separate column for OBCs in the census questionnaire runs counter to the principles of social justice and will prevent the actual population figures of the OBC community from coming to light.

Citing the notification issued on August 14, Dr. Jaihind pointed out that the column for the OBC category is completely missing from the 10th question of the questionnaire. He stated that the very OBC community—on the strength of whose support the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi rose to the pinnacle of power—is now being deceived.

The Congress leader referred to the social, educational, economic, employment, political, and caste survey conducted by the Congress government in Telangana. He explained that a scientific questionnaire comprising 54 questions was prepared for this survey in consultation with social activists and experts. Enumerators visited households with a list of 242 castes, and specific categories and castes were recorded. He remarked that in the 21st century—an era defined by artificial intelligence and modern technology—the Modi government at the Centre is attempting to conduct the census in a ‘quack-like’ (unprofessional/amateurish) manner instead of adopting a scientific approach.

He further said that Rahul Gandhi has been continuously raising the demand for it since the year 2023. Due to this political pressure, finally on April 30, 2025, the Modi government was forced to announce the conduct of caste census. However, despite the announcement, the government is not clearly showing its intention to implement this entire process with transparency, but Congress will not back down from the fight for the rights of backward people, Dalits and the exploited. Monday, August 17, 2026