BJP ally Union Minister Anupriya Patel demands caste census, quota in private sector class-IV jobs
Lucknow: Apna Dal (S) National President and Union Minister Anupriya Patel has called for a caste-based census, aligning with demands from opposition leaders such as Congress's Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Speaking at a state executive committee meeting of the party, an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Patel emphasized the need for a caste census to ensure that welfare benefits are accurately distributed.
"Castes are the basis of social structure in India. It is very important to have authentic numbers of various castes so that their share in various welfare schemes can be fixed accordingly," Patel stated. The Apna Dal (S), which represents a significant portion of the OBC community, particularly the Kurmis, has consistently advocated for a caste census.
In addition to the census, Patel also called for implementing reservation policies in class-IV jobs within the private sector. She criticized the lack of reservation in appointments made through outsourcing, describing the system as detrimental to candidates from deprived sections of society.
Patel also addressed the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Property (Management and Use for Public Purposes) Bill-2024, currently under review by a Select Committee. She reiterated her party's stance, deeming the bill "uncalled-for" and expressing concerns that it does not align with public sentiment.
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Standing firmly with armed forces; time for unity, solidarity: Congress
New Delhi(PTI): This is a time for unity and solidarity and the Congress is standing firmly with the armed forces, the party said on Wednesday as Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said India's commitment to eliminating all sources of terrorism in Pakistan and PoK has necessarily to be uncompromising and always be anchored in the supreme national interest.
"This is a time for unity and solidarity. Right from the night of April 22nd, the Congress has been categorically stating that the government will have our fullest support in the nation's response to the Pahalgam terror attack," he said.
"The Congress is standing firmly with our armed forces," Ramesh said on X, using the hashtag "Operation Sindoor".
In retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes early Wednesday on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke.
The military strikes were carried out under Operation Sindoor two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
"A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed," the defence ministry said in a statement at 1.44 am.
It said the actions by the Indian armed forces have been "focused, measured and non-escalatory" in nature and that no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.
"प्रहाराय सन्निहिताः, जयाय प्रशिक्षिताः"
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 6, 2025
Ready to Strike, Trained to Win.#IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/M9CA9dv1Xx
