Lalu, Mulayam demand caste-based census

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday took exception to the way the national census was being carried out and demanded that it be held on the basis of caste, to ascertain the number of people belonging to backward classes.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, Prasad said there was a 'huge conspiracy' behind the way the current national census was being carried out.

Supported by Yadav, the RJD leader said the 2010 census should be similar to the 1931 one, hen information was collected on the basis of caste.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj sought a discussion on the census in the House which was agreed to by Speaker Meira Kumar.

A host of other issues including plight of potato growers and corruption in the home ministry, besides demand for more money from the prime minister's relief fund for the sick, were raised.