Special Correspondent
Panaji
Indicating that the state government would soon take up caste-based census, Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shripad Naik on Friday said the government is not opposed to this census.
“I am confident that the government of Goa will not hesitate to conduct caste-based census,” he added, pointing out, “As the ruling party, we have to consider all factors before taking a decision.”
On the other hand, senior party leader Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik said state BJP core committee, which is the think tank of the party at the local level, and the Goa government will jointly discuss the issue.
Speaking to mediapersons, Shripad Naik said that he will urge the government to conduct the caste-based census at the earliest. “Matters concerning public interest should not be delayed, as delays amount to denying justice,” he opined.
It is pertinent to note that delegations of leaders from other backward classes have been meeting Opposition leaders from the Congress and the Goa Forward Party over the past few days submitting to them representations regarding caste-based census in
the state.
Commenting on these meetings, state BJP president Damu Naik said there was nothing wrong in approaching any party.
“I will not react abruptly on the issue,” he maintained, when asked about the growing demand for a caste-based census in Goa.
“The state BJP core committee, which is the think tank of the party at the local level, and the Goa government will jointly discuss the issue and will go ahead by taking everyone’s opinion into consideration,” Damodar Naik said.
