News Analysis India

Tag: Caste census

  • Kharge writes to PM Modi demanding caste census, says reliable database essential for social justice

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded an up-to-date caste census.

    In his letter, Kharge said in the absence of an updated caste census, a reliable database so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete.

    My letter to the Prime Minister demanding the publication of Socio Economic Caste Census.Regular decennial Census was to be carried out in 2021 but it has not been conducted. We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made it’s integral part. pic.twitter.com/eoL52gRFC1
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 17, 2023
    “I am writing to you to once again place on record the demand of the Indian National Congress for an up-to-date Caste Census. My colleagues and I have raised this demand earlier in both Houses of Parliament on a number of occasions as have leaders of many other Opposition parties,” the Congress chief said in his letter.

    “You are aware that for the first time, the UPA Government conducted a Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) during 2011-12 covering some 25 crore households. For a number of reasons, however, the caste data could not get published even though Congress and other MPs demanded its release after your government came to power in May 2014,” he said.

    “In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable database so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete. This Census is the responsibility of the Union Government,” Kharge said.

    In the letter dated April 16, he also pointed out that the regular decennial census was to be carried out in 2021 but it has not yet been conducted.

    “We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made its integral part,” Kharge said.

    Sharing Kharge’s letter to the prime minister, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted “Jitni aabadi, utna haq! Congress President @kharge -ji has written to PM demanding that the decennial Census that should have been conducted in 2021 be done right away, and a Caste Census be made it’s integral part.

    This will put social justice & empowerment on a firmer footing”.

    ALSO READ | Release caste census data, remove quota cap, Rahul tells Modi govt

    Addressing a rally in Katnataka’s Kolar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday also dared Prime Minister Modi to release the 2011 caste-based census data in the public domain and also demanded the 50 per cent cap on reservation be removed.

    “UPA in 2011 did the caste-based census. It has the data of all the castes. Mr Prime Minister, you talk of OBCs. Make that data public. Let the nation know how many OBCs, Dalits and tribals are there in the country,” Gandhi had said at the Congress’ ‘Jai Bharat’ election rally in Kolar in the run-up to the May 10 Karnataka polls.

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded an up-to-date caste census.

    In his letter, Kharge said in the absence of an updated caste census, a reliable database so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete.

    My letter to the Prime Minister demanding the publication of Socio Economic Caste Census.
    Regular decennial Census was to be carried out in 2021 but it has not been conducted. We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made it’s integral part. pic.twitter.com/eoL52gRFC1googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 17, 2023
    “I am writing to you to once again place on record the demand of the Indian National Congress for an up-to-date Caste Census. My colleagues and I have raised this demand earlier in both Houses of Parliament on a number of occasions as have leaders of many other Opposition parties,” the Congress chief said in his letter.

    “You are aware that for the first time, the UPA Government conducted a Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) during 2011-12 covering some 25 crore households. For a number of reasons, however, the caste data could not get published even though Congress and other MPs demanded its release after your government came to power in May 2014,” he said.

    “In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable database so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete. This Census is the responsibility of the Union Government,” Kharge said.

    In the letter dated April 16, he also pointed out that the regular decennial census was to be carried out in 2021 but it has not yet been conducted.

    “We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made its integral part,” Kharge said.

    Sharing Kharge’s letter to the prime minister, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted “Jitni aabadi, utna haq! Congress President @kharge -ji has written to PM demanding that the decennial Census that should have been conducted in 2021 be done right away, and a Caste Census be made it’s integral part.

    This will put social justice & empowerment on a firmer footing”.

    ALSO READ | Release caste census data, remove quota cap, Rahul tells Modi govt

    Addressing a rally in Katnataka’s Kolar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday also dared Prime Minister Modi to release the 2011 caste-based census data in the public domain and also demanded the 50 per cent cap on reservation be removed.

    “UPA in 2011 did the caste-based census. It has the data of all the castes. Mr Prime Minister, you talk of OBCs. Make that data public. Let the nation know how many OBCs, Dalits and tribals are there in the country,” Gandhi had said at the Congress’ ‘Jai Bharat’ election rally in Kolar in the run-up to the May 10 Karnataka polls.

  • Bihar to conduct two-phase caste census from January 7

    Express News Service

    PATNA:  The much-hyped caste-based census in Bihar, which is likely to give a major push to Mandal politics, will begin in Bihar from January 7. The exercise will be held in two phases. In the first phase, the number of all households will be counted in the state. In the second phase, starting from March, enumerators will collect data related to people of all castes and sub castes and religions. They will also record information about the financial status of all people.

    On the basis of the caste basis headcount, the state government will formulate policies considering their population and economic status, government sources said. According to a notification issued by the state general administration department, the first phase of the census will be completed by January 21. Enumerators will also undergo training for the purpose from December 15.

    The Bihar cabinet has extended the deadline for completing the exercise of caste-based headcount in the state by three months, to May 2023. The state government will spend 500 crore from its contingency fund for the exercise. The issue of caste-based census in Bihar snowballed into a major political plank after the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had made it clear in Lok Sabha in July 2021 that no caste-wise census except for SCs and STs would be conducted.

    In the seven censuses conducted so far since independence, data related to only SCs and STs have been published. In the absence of data related to other castes, it becomes difficult to estimate the population of OBCs correctly. The former VP Singh government which had given reservation to OBCs had also fixed reservation quota for them on the basis of the 1931 census, the last caste-based census in the country. 

    In the 1931 census, the population of OBCs was estimated to be 52 per cent. The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had conducted the socio-economic and caste census in 2011 but the caste data was not released. The state legislature had passed two unanimous resolutions, in 2018 and 2019, in favour of a caste-based count.

    Those demanding caste-based census contend that SCs and STs were given the benefits of reservation on the basis of their population but the reservation quota for OBCs had not been fixed similarly. They argue that on the basis of findings of the caste-based census, the reservation quota fixed for the OBCs could be accordingly revised.

    In an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 1, 2022, on the issue of caste census, it was unanimously decided that the castes and sub-castes of all religions will be counted in Bihar. The Chief Minister had said that the purpose of conducting caste-based enumeration is to take people forward so that no one in the state is neglected.

    Included: Religion, caste and sub-caste In the first phase, the number of all households will be counted in the state. In the second phase, starting from March, enumerators will collect data related to people of all castes and sub-castes and religions. They will also record information about the financial status of all people. 

    PATNA:  The much-hyped caste-based census in Bihar, which is likely to give a major push to Mandal politics, will begin in Bihar from January 7. The exercise will be held in two phases. In the first phase, the number of all households will be counted in the state. In the second phase, starting from March, enumerators will collect data related to people of all castes and sub castes and religions. They will also record information about the financial status of all people.

    On the basis of the caste basis headcount, the state government will formulate policies considering their population and economic status, government sources said. According to a notification issued by the state general administration department, the first phase of the census will be completed by January 21. Enumerators will also undergo training for the purpose from December 15.

    The Bihar cabinet has extended the deadline for completing the exercise of caste-based headcount in the state by three months, to May 2023. The state government will spend 500 crore from its contingency fund for the exercise. The issue of caste-based census in Bihar snowballed into a major political plank after the Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had made it clear in Lok Sabha in July 2021 that no caste-wise census except for SCs and STs would be conducted.

    In the seven censuses conducted so far since independence, data related to only SCs and STs have been published. In the absence of data related to other castes, it becomes difficult to estimate the population of OBCs correctly. The former VP Singh government which had given reservation to OBCs had also fixed reservation quota for them on the basis of the 1931 census, the last caste-based census in the country. 

    In the 1931 census, the population of OBCs was estimated to be 52 per cent. The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had conducted the socio-economic and caste census in 2011 but the caste data was not released. The state legislature had passed two unanimous resolutions, in 2018 and 2019, in favour of a caste-based count.

    Those demanding caste-based census contend that SCs and STs were given the benefits of reservation on the basis of their population but the reservation quota for OBCs had not been fixed similarly. They argue that on the basis of findings of the caste-based census, the reservation quota fixed for the OBCs could be accordingly revised.

    In an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 1, 2022, on the issue of caste census, it was unanimously decided that the castes and sub-castes of all religions will be counted in Bihar. The Chief Minister had said that the purpose of conducting caste-based enumeration is to take people forward so that no one in the state is neglected.

    Included: Religion, caste and sub-caste 
    In the first phase, the number of all households will be counted in the state. In the second phase, starting from March, enumerators will collect data related to people of all castes and sub-castes and religions. They will also record information about the financial status of all people.
     

  • INTERVIEW | Not only OBCs, all castes should be counted in census: Ramdas Athawale

    Express News Service

    The Centre last week gave an extension to a panel examining sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for another six months. This is the 13th extension since its formation in 2017. Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court G Rohini, thus, has time until January 31, 2023 for the gigantic work.

    The demand for the sub-categorization stems from the fact that only a handful of total OBC communities get a major chunk of the reserved jobs and seats in educational institutes.

    In an interview to Preetha Nair, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale speaks about the status of the Rohini Commission and the need for a nationwide caste census.

    Excerpts from the interview:

    The Commission’s tenure is extended until next year. Why is the report delayed?The Rohini Commission was formed by the Social Justice Ministry in 2017 to subcategorize around 5,000 sub-castes among the OBCs. It is an arduous task to ensure equitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities in the category of Central list of OBCs. The commission is still studying various aspects of it. Since it is a complex subject, the commission has to consult states.

    The impression is that only a section of affluent OBCs gets a lion’s share of the benefits. Is the government wary of losing support of certain OBCs?I am not aware of the findings of the Commission. Once its report is ready, it has to be discussed with states. The recommendations also need the approval of the Cabinet. Though the panel’s initial mandate was to examine the distribution of reservation benefits at the Central level, its terms of reference were expanded later. It is not an easy job.

    The BJP ally JD-U will conduct a caste-based census in Bihar. Your party, the RPI, too, has demanded a nationwide caste census…I have always supported caste census. My party’s position is that not only OBCs, all castes should be counted. This will provide clear data on the caste-based marginalization and deprivation. Once all castes are enumerated, we will be able to formulate schemes for the most deprived.

    Does the caste survey conducted by states have any constitutional validity since Census is under Union List?States can do surveys. Unlike the Census, it’s not legally bound. State governments are trying to enumerate the OBC population so that there is equitable distribution of welfare schemes. Many NDA allies have demanded a caste-based census. The government should consider the demand. In Bihar, there are political compulsions.

    The Centre has ruled out a caste census, saying caste-based enumeration is not feasible.That is the position of the government. My party has always stood for caste-based census. As an MP, I have raised the issue in Parliament many times and demanded the government take an immediate decision. There are apprehensions that caste-based census will lead to more casteism. That’s not the case.

    Why do you root for caste-based census?A caste census will help identify the economically and socially deprived sections. Once the data is available, we can design more programmes for them. There is a perception that OBC accounts for 52 per cent of the total population. However, we need to have a clear estimate.

    Is there a fear of the repeat of Mandal politics if caste census is conducted?When the Mandal Commission recommendations came out, the general category protested because they felt that they would lose out on reservations. Now that the NDA government has provided 10 per cent reservation to the EWS, we shouldn’t be seeing such outrage.

  • Caste-based census in Bihar soon as all-party meet gives nod to exercise

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Decks have been cleared for the caste-based census in Bihar following a meeting of all political parties on Wednesday. 

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

    Talking to the media after the all-party meeting, Nitish said that a proposal to conduct the caste-based census in the state will be presented in the meeting of the state cabinet soon for its approval. “Everything related to the census will be done within a limited period,” he added.

    The census will cover all castes, sub-castes and religions. To make it foolproof, the government will ensure proper training of the personnel assigned the arduous task. “The government will ensure that nobody is left out of it,” Nitish pointed out.

    The meeting was attended by 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 legislature party leader Ajeet Sharma and HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi were among others present at the meeting.

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

    To a query, Nitish said that the all-party meeting was delayed due to elections. “Earlier, we had demanded from the centre to conduct a caste-based census at the national level. Even a delegation had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue last year,” he asserted.

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

  • ‘There is no other option’: Sharad Pawar bats for caste census

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday demanded a caste-based census, saying such an exercise was necessary to ensure social equality.

    Addressing a meeting of the NCP OBC cell, Pawar said everybody should get what is rightfully due to them.

    “We are not asking anything for free. There is no option but to conduct a caste-based census,” the former Union minister said.

    Pawar said Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes had benefitted due to reservations granted to them by the Constitution and similar concessions are required for the Other Backward Classes.

    The NCP leader’s comments came in the backdrop of demands to restore OBC reservation in local body polls in Maharashtra, where elections are due this year in a number of local self-government institutions.

    The Supreme Court earlier this year rejected the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission’s interim report recommending the restoration of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in local body polls.

    “To provide concessions, the government should know the exact OBC population and hence a caste-based census was needed,” Pawar said.

    Based on the census figures, justice can be provided to the community, said the NCP leader, whose party is a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    Attacking the BJP for criticising the MVA government over the issue of political quota for OBCs, Pawar said, “You were in power here (in Maharashtra) for five years (from 2014 to 2019) and continue to rule in Delhi (at the Centre) since 2014.

    Were you sleeping till now?” He said the NCP will face the upcoming local body polls only after resolving the OBC quota issue and added that the social group will surely get its share in decision-making.

    The NCP president said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, an ally of the BJP, has spoken in favour of caste census, but the saffron outfit’s mindset on the issue is different.

    Pawar said RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi has opposed a caste-based census, saying it would send a wrong message in the society.

    “What is wrong if a correct picture emerges? The NCP will create awareness about it,” he said.

  • All-party meeting on caste-based census in Bihar rescheduled for June 1

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The all-party meeting on the caste-based census in Bihar has been rescheduled for June 1. Earlier, it was decided to convene a meeting on the issue on May 27. According to authoritative sources in the chief minister’s office, the meeting will be held at Samvad at 4 pm. The leaders of all political parties have been invited to the meeting to share their views on the issue.

    Deputy chief minister and BJP leader Tarkishore Prasad said that the BJP would participate in the all-party meet scheduled for June 1. “The BJP leadership will decide the name of the party’s representative for the meeting,” he added.

    The all-party meeting will be followed by cabinet approval on the proposal to hold a caste-based census in the state from its own resources. The demand for a caste-based census has been pending for a long time. Earlier, the proposal was passed by the state legislature twice.

    On Monday chief minister Nitish Kumar had said that a final decision on the date of the all-party meeting would be announced after consultation with leaders of political parties. However, most of the leaders had earlier agreed on May 27.

    Sources said the meeting has been rescheduled due to nominations for the Rajya Sabha, which started on Tuesday. The last date of nomination is May 31 and scrutiny of papers will be done on June 1. The leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav had met Nitish and held a closed-door meeting on the issue of a caste-based census in the state. 

  • BJP has always supported demand for caste census: Sushil Modi

    By PTI

    PATNA: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday asserted that his party has always been in support of a caste census, which has become a burning issue in the state, and rebutted the “dushprachaar” (misinformation) on part of political rivals.

    The former Bihar deputy chief minister came out with a video and a series of tweets asserting that the BJP has all through remained in support of the caste census demand even though the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has expressed inability to get it conducted because of “practicalities”.

    Sushil Modi’s averment came in the wake of the contention by Lalu Prasad’s RJD that the BJP has been opposed to social justice and thus it had not agreed to caste census nationally and was indifferent towards getting the same conducted on a state level despite being a partner in the Nitish Kumar government.

    The former deputy CM pointed out that the BJP had voted in the favour of two resolutions passed by both houses of the legislature in Bihar in support of a caste census and “a senior cabinet minister from our party, Janak Ram, was a part of the delegation led by the CM that had met PM Narendra Modi to press the demand last year”.

    He also underscored that the BJP had similarly backed the demand when it was raised in adjoining Jharkhand where “our state president was part of the delegation formed to meet the PM”.

    “We voted in favour of a resolution on caste census when it was passed in Odisha. When state-specific caste surveys were conducted in Telangana and Karnataka we did not oppose the same. Parliament’s records are proof that our late leader Gopinath Munde had strongly supported caste census when there was a debate on the issue in 2010, while the Congress-led UPA was in power,” Modi added.

    Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has indicated that a state-specific survey will be conducted soon after seeking inputs from different groups at an all-party meeting.

  • Caste census chorus by Nitish, Naveen & Soren

    Express News Service

    PATNA/NEW DELHI:  Despite the Centre recently ruling out caste census in 2021 in its affidavit before the Supreme Court, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday pressed ahead saying it was the need of the hour and served national interest. Similar demands came from chief ministers of Jharkhand and Odisha during Sunday’s meeting in Delhi with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Left-wing extremism.

    Nitish KumarWhile Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren submitted a memorandum in support of caste-based census, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said his government would do whatever is sensible to reduce discrimination in his state. 

    Addressing media after the Delhi meeting, Nitish said enumeration of castes was key to effective implementation of welfare schemes and “it would not be proper if it is not conducted”. Nitish said he would convene an all-party meeting in Bihar to discuss the situation and chart the future course. 

    While Nitish said he does not see any point in leaving the NDA over this issue, his statement put the Bihar BJP in a tight spot as it has been advised by its leadership to expose the parties demanding caste census. Three of the four NDA constituents — JD(U), HAM and VIP — have broken ranks and are supporting the Opposition on the issue. 

    Predictably, former deputy chief minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi defended the Centre’s line, saying caste-based census was difficult as it was not ‘just a matter of adding a column’. “But if any state wants to conduct it, it can go ahead and do it like Karnataka had done earlier or like Odisha is doing now,” Modi said. “If the Bihar NDA wants to conduct the survey, it can do it. But it is not practically possible for the Centre to conduct it now,” he added.

  • Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reiterates demand for caste census

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday reiterated his demand for a caste census, saying it is in national interest and will facilitate development of the communities lagging in development.

    Asked about the Centre’s affidavit in the Supreme Court that virtually ruled out census on the caste lines, he told reporters that it was “absolutely not correct” but added that the matter was not directly related to the issue of caste census.

    In the national capital to attend Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with the chief ministers of naxal-affected states, the JD(U) leader also rejected arguments against caste census and asserted that the demand for it has been coming from not only Bihar but many states.

    Kumar said he will speak to members of different parties in Bihar over the issue to chart out their next course of action.

    He had led an all-party delegation from the state to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in support of such a headcount across the country.

    However, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that caste census of backward classes is “administratively difficult and cumbersome” and excluding such information from the purview of Census is a “conscious policy decision”.

    In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the government has said that caste enumeration in Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011 was fraught with mistakes and inaccuracies. Kumar asserted that caste census can be done by imparting appropriate training to people.

    However, the Bihar chief minister, whose party’s ties with the BJP have been uneven for some time, refused to be drawn into any political implications of the issue.

    “Caste census is in the interest of the country. It will help the country’s development,” he said.

    After the Centre’s stand, many BJP leaders in Bihar have strongly defended the move and questioned the need for caste census. The BJP has made it clear that its stand on the politically fraught issue can be different from those, including some of its allies, supporting the step. As far as the BJP is concerned, it stands for “sab ka saath, sabka vikas”, the party had said.

  • RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav writes to non-BJP leaders on caste census

    By PTI

    PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday reached out to non-BJP leaders across the country seeking their support on the issue of caste census for backward classes, which has received a cold shoulder from the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

    Two days after the Union government told the Supreme Court that it had taken a “conscious policy decision” not to undertake enumeration of OBCs and EBCs which it deemed “administratively cumbersome”, Yadav, leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly, shot off letters to politicians as diverse as Nitish Kumar, Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal.

    In the strongly-worded letter addressed to a total of 33 recipients, Yadav said “it bears repeating for a brazenly callous government that the caste system, which Dr B R Ambedkar referred to as a system of graded inequality, has been a great source of disadvantage for a significantly large section of population”.

    ​ALSO READ | Centre’s no to caste census: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in shock, RJD goes ballistic

    The Centre has agreed for a head count of only the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, much to the chagrin of the numerically powerful OBCs who have dominated politics in Hindi belt, particularly Bihar, since the 1990s.

    Yadav, whose father Lalu Prasad and the his arch rival Chief Minister Nitish Kumar owe their rise in politics to the Mandal movement for OBC emowerment, said in his letter “we need to join our hands and push the government of the day” on the issue of caste census.

    “I am open to suggestions and inputs from you so that we immediately prepare our plan of action in this regard without any further delay”, said Yadav, who was a part of an all-party delegation headed by Nitish Kumar that had recently met the Prime Minister to press the demand.

    ​ALSO READ | BJP takes dig at oppn parties pitching over caste census, says it stands for ‘sabka saath’

    All non-BJP Chief Ministers, including Uddhav Thackeray, M K Stalin, Naveen Patnaik, K Chandrasekhar Rao and Jaganmohan Reddy, besides heads of political parties not aligned with the NDA like Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Parkash Singh Badal and Sitaram Yechury have been marked a copy of the letter.

    The NDA’s alliance partners in Bihar, including Kumar, Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi and Vikassheel Insaan Party president Mukesh Sahni also figure in the list.

    So does LJP’s Chirag Paswan though, interestingly, his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras who heads a rival faction of the party and is a Union minister is not among the recipients.

    Similarly, Akhtarul Iman, state president of the AIMIM, has been sent the letter but not the party chief Asaduddin Owaisi who claims to be equidistant from the BJP and mainstream “secular” parties like the Congress and its allies, including RJD.