New Delhi: On Friday, the Congress criticized the Narendra Modi government for its failure to conduct the decadal Census, which was due in 2021. The party expressed concerns that this failure could lead to the exclusion of as many as 14 crore Indians from their food entitlements.

In a statement, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh characterized the Modi government as "inept and incompetent" due to its failure to conduct the Census, which he described as an unprecedented failure in the country's history.

Ramesh also pointed out that even other developing nations in the G20 group, such as Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa, managed to conduct their Census despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

The Congress party has called upon the BJP-led government to stop denying basic rights to 14 crore Indians under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and to increase the beneficiary quota until the Census is completed.

Additionally, the Congress party has demanded the conduct of an updated national caste census and urged an end to opposition to state-level caste census efforts. Ramesh emphasized the significance of caste data for ensuring adequate development and social justice for all citizens.

Ramesh also highlighted a pattern of data suppression by the Modi government, citing examples such as the National Sample Survey (NSS) unemployment data and the discontinuation of various surveys and data collection efforts. The Congress party called for greater transparency and the restoration of faith in India's statistical system.

Overall, the Congress party urged the government to address these issues promptly and prioritize the welfare and rights of the Indian population.