In a bid to bring about consensus on inclusion of caste in census, the Centre will write to all political parties seeking their views on the issue, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday.
Emerging out of a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his residence in Chennai , Mukherjee told reporters that he had apprised the DMK leader of the deliberations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting on the caste in census issue.
The Centre decided to seek the views of political parties as there was no consensus among the GoM. "Different opinions were expressed by the ministers. The Group of Ministers will meet further to take a decision on the issue," Mukherjee, who heads the GoM, said.
At its meeting on July 1, the GoM had failed to come to a conclusion on the politically-sensitive issue of including caste category in the census following which it decided to seek views of political parties. The GoM was set up last month after consensus eluded two meetings of the Union Cabinet.
Parties such as SP, RJD and JD(U) have strongly pitched for including caste category in the exercise.
On direct taxes reforms, he said all the states had been informed about tax reforms, goods and services tax and direct tax code. The states have to work in close coordination with the Centre in finalising and implementing the reforms.He also apprised Karunanidhi on the direct tax code, and about goods and service tax. PTI
