New Delhi, May 1 -- Congress leader Harish Rawat on Thursday welcomed the Centre's decision to conduct a caste census, crediting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's nationwide campaign for putting pressure on the government.

"Rahul Gandhi held a national campaign and put pressure, and this is the result that PM Modi accepted to conduct a caste census. We welcome this decision," he said

Rawat, however questioned the timing of the announcement, suggesting that it might have been made for political motives.

"But, the timing of this is raising several questions, one is, Bihar elections, there, the BJP is going to lose, so the BJP has chosen this time (to announce this decision). Following the Pahalgam attack, there is also pressure from the pub...