Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in Patna

NCP President and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was in Patna on August 6, 2010 to participate in the state-level conference of his party.

Speaking on the occasion, Pawar said his party favoured inclusion of caste category in the census for development of the people.

"The NCP favours conduct of a caste-based census for development of the people," he said.

The enumeration of the number of castes should be carried out to ensure the people's development and not for pursuing caste-based politics, he added.

NCP has given the nod for inclusion of the caste category in the census after its opinion was sought on the issue by the UPA government, he remarked.

Pawar also criticized Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar on their secular credentials.

Photos: Aftab Alam Siddiqui