Chennai, May 2 -- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday weighed in on the caste census debate, asserting that the focus should remain on uplifting downtrodden communities rather than turning the issue into a political battleground.

Speaking in Chennai, Sitharaman said, "DMK and the Opposition are trying to claim victory for themselves, but they didn't do that. Don't see it as a political thing; think about how it benefits the downtrodden people."

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a media briefing following the Cabinet meeting that the decision demo...