Express press service

PATNA: Bridges have been cleared for the caste-based census in Bihar following an all-party political meeting on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the caste-based census would be carried out within a time frame.

Speaking to the media after the multi-party meeting, Nitish said a proposal to conduct the caste-based census in the state will soon be presented at the state cabinet meeting for approval. “Everything related to the census will be done within a limited timeframe,” he added.

The census will cover all castes, sub-castes and religions. To make it infallible, the government will ensure adequate training of personnel assigned to the arduous task. “The government will ensure that no one is left out,” Nitish stressed.

The meeting brought together nine political parties — BJP, JDU, RJD, Congress, CPI-ML (Liberation), CPI, HAM and AIMIM and VIP. CM Nitish, his deputy Tarksihore Prasad, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Congress legislative party leader Ajeet Sharma and HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi were among others present at the meeting.

Nitish said the leaders of all political parties took the unanimous decision to conduct the caste-based census. The census will be conducted with state government resources. The government will organize funds for this purpose.

When asked, Nitish said the multi-party meeting was delayed due to the election. “Previously, we asked the center to carry out a caste-based census at the national level. Even a delegation had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue last year,” he claimed.

Later, it was decided that the census would be carried out by the state government. “Everything related to the caste-based census will be put in the public domain so that people can get information about the census,” Nitish said.