Thane, May 3 -- Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi welcomed the Centre's decision to include caste-based data in the national census, calling it the fulfilment of a long-standing demand.

While speaking to the media on Saturday, Azmi said, "This was our demand and it has been fulfilled. We pressurised them. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav demanded it. There should be no discrepancy in this."

Earlier on Thursday, Azmi credited SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for continuously arguing for a caste census. He urged the central government to conduct the census with "honesty."

"Due to the efforts of our leader, Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the government has accepted this. The cens...