LUCKNOW, May 2 -- Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and state cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday said that political parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) failed to conduct a caste census despite being in power for decades. "Parties like Congress, SP and BSP ruled for years but never initiated a caste census. Now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work that should have been done long ago is finally being completed," Rajbhar said. Rajbhar said the caste census will uncover the real numbers behind various communities and give a new direction to social justice. "This will bring the rights of those who were never counted into focus. The real figures will now come out, and those who were left behind will get representation. It's a ray of hope for those ignored for decades," he stated. "When the caste census wasn't conducted, they said the government was scared. Now that it's being done, they say it's for electoral benefit. If it was such a strong political issue, why didn't they take action when in power?" Rajbhar questioned. He dismissed criticism of the Centre's intent, saying there was no pressure on the Modi government. Meanwhile, BJP Backward Morcha's state president and minister of state (independent charge) for backward welfare, Narendra Kashyap, criticised the Congress for not conducting a caste census during its decades-long rule, accusing it of betraying backward communities with unfulfilled promises. "Congress ruled the country for 60 years but never showed the courage to carry out a caste census. It kept misleading the backward sections of society," Kashyap said while addressing the media in Lucknow. Notably, the last caste-based enumeration was conducted during the 1931 census, and no such exercise has been undertaken since. "In 2010, the Congress government gave an assurance in Parliament but never fulfilled it. Instead, it conducted a general survey under the banner of a social, economic and caste census," he said. "This step will pave the way for better welfare of deprived, backward and marginalised groups. It is a move in the direction of social justice," he said. The minister also referred to the Mandal Commission report of 1980, which was based on the 1931 caste data and had estimated that around 52% of the country's population belonged to Other Backward Classes (OBCs). On this basis, the Commission recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Rai on Thursday said the Union government's decision to club the caste census with next year's population census has come as a victory for deprived sections of society. In a statement, Rai said the move reflects the acceptance of Rahul Gandhi's long-standing demand. "This was a victory for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party," he said. He said the caste census would lead to development and narrow down the gap between the rich and the poor. "There was a need to continue building pressure on the government to ensure that the caste census was done at the earliest." Rai urged the Centre to announce a clear timeline for the beginning and completion of the caste census process. He further said Rahul Gandhi has also sought the removal of the 50% cap on reservations....