New Delhi, May 4 -- Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as a 'sudden and desperate U-turn' on caste census in India. The central government had recently announced that caste enumeration would be part of the upcoming national census, a move that has sparked widespread political discussion.

Through a social media post, the Congress leader highlighted how the Modi government had previously opposed the idea of a caste-based census.

He referred to three instances that he says clearly show the government's change in stance. In April 2024, Prime Minister Modi, during a television interview, had labeled those demanding a caste census as "urban naxals."

Ramesh also recalled t...