New Delhi, August 31
The government today said it would shortly begin the process of caste enumeration in the Census. Following ruckus in the House over confusion on government stand on the issue despite assurances on that count by the Prime Minister, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said the matter would be cleared in the next Cabinet meeting and there was no apprehension on that count. He said a caste headcount would be done.

Pranab was responding after JDU chief Sharad Yadav and SP head Mulayam Singh raised the matter in the Lok Sabha triggering a debate in which BJP’s Gopinath Munde and BSP’s Dara Singh Chauhan also participated, accusing the government of dilly-dallying on the matter.

“We did not announce the decision because the matter was under the consideration of the Group of Ministers which was not empowered. Their decision will have to be endorsed by the Cabinet and the same would be done in the next Cabinet meeting. I had written to party leaders and most of them had responded positively,” Pranab said.