Former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh has demanded that the ongoing census should be stopped immediately and restarted only after a decision on the caste-based census is taken.
He also sought the intervention of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the matter.
Talking to reporters here on Friday, Mr Singh said that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reminding him of his assurance to Parliament on the issue.
“The Prime Minister had said in Lok Sabha that he would honour the sentiments of the house and he should do it by ordering caste census which is needed to remove social imbalances prevailing in the society,” he said.
Further explaining the need for caste-based census, he said that nearly 78 per cent of the population comprised of OBCs, dalits and Scheduled Tribes whereas the representation of the castes in government services was around 22 per cent.
“There is resentment among those who are being deprived of their rightful share in power and a caste-based census can remove these anomalies.”