RJD to protest withholding caste Census data: Lalu

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday announced that his party would compel the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government to make public the caste-based Census data.

The former Bihar chief minister said people of the country have right to know the details of caste-based Census and the Narendra Modi-led government should make the data public soon.

"Centre should make the caste census public instead of withholding the data on numerical strength of different castes," Lalu Prasad said while addressing his party workers here to celebrate 19th anniversary of the RJD.

"People have right to know it and every caste should know its strength and weakness in terms of population and other things," he said.

He warned the Modi government that RJD would not remain silent if the central government delayed making public the data on numerical strength of the poorest of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden sections of the society.

"Prime Minister Modi should explain to people as to why the caste data was withheld," he said.

Lalu Prasad said RJD and its allies the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Congress and National Congress Party (NCP) would raise this issue in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.

Declaring that he along with the party workers would take out a march in Patna on July 13, Lalu Prasad urged the party leaders and workers to join the march in large numbers and express their opposition to withholding of the caste Census.