Rahul & Kharge Urge PM Modi: Scrap Flawed Caste Census Questionnaire!

Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have formally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to immediately scrap the existing questionnaire for the upcoming caste census. The leaders, representing the Congress party in both houses of Parliament, voiced serious concerns that the current 'open-ended' approach would lead to inaccuracies and undermine the very purpose of the census.

In their joint letter, dated August 20, 2026, and released to the public on August 25, 2026, Gandhi and Kharge highlighted a critical flaw: the same caste can be recorded under various names, sub-castes, or linguistic variations across different regions. This, they argue, makes accurate enumeration impossible and defeats the objective of a comprehensive caste-based count.

To rectify this, the Congress leaders have proposed a new, more robust methodology. They suggest that the government should consult widely with experts, political parties, and the general public to formulate an improved questionnaire. As practical models, they pointed to the caste surveys successfully conducted in Bihar and Telangana, recommending their approaches be considered.

A key recommendation from the letter is the implementation of a ‘drop-down list’ for castes. This standardized approach would help eliminate discrepancies arising from diverse spellings or nomenclature, ensuring that each caste is recorded consistently and accurately. According to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, the party views the current census exercise as a “whitewash” and a “betrayal of the people,” arguing that it employs a methodology designed to undermine its true purpose. The Congress party firmly states that it will not accept the census if conducted in its present form, asserting that it would yield misleading data rather than a true reflection of the caste demographics.

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