Bihar CM Nitish Kumar terms meeting with PM Modi on caste-based census 'positive'

''Meeting with the PM on caste census was positive. We have put forth our point of view, waiting for the government's response,'' Kumar said after a ten-party delegation met Modi here.

The Janata Dal (United) leader said a caste-based census will help in formulating development plans effectively.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who had accompanied the Chief Minister on this issue, said the Opposition has always supported the government on pro-people, pro-nation measures.

Tejashwi said this while replying to a question on whether RJD and JD(U) were coming closer.

Talking to the media ahead of the meeting, Tejashwi had said such a census would help the government in formulating better schemes.

"It will benefit people not just from Bihar, but also from other parts of the country," he said.

The demand for a caste-based census has come from several quarters for a count of people in different backward classes.

Apart from the leaders from Bihar, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel are among those who have asked for it.

The demand was also raised by several political parties during a debate in Parliament on a constitutional amendment bill to restore states' power to have their own OBC lists in the recently concluded monsoon session.