'Sabka saath sabka vikaas' a sham: Akhilesh pitches for caste survey

Mocking the Bharatiya Janata Party's slogan 'Sabka saath, sabka vikaas', Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Sunday said instead of sloganeering, it should focus on eliminating inequality in the country by holding a nationwide caste survey to ensure that all communities get their due share in the development.

Speaking at a programme held at the Samajwadi Party (SP) office here to mark the 74th birth anniversary of late veteran Kurmi leader Sonelal Patel, Yadav said, "If we demand a caste-based census, then we are termed as casteist people by the BJP."

"The BJP cleverly sings the slogan of 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas' but will development reach everyone merely by saying 'sabka saath'?" the SP chief asked.

"This inequality will end only if a caste census is carried out and people of all communities get their due respect and honour."

Citing the provision of a caste survey in several countries, Yadav said instead of implementing rules to bring people who lag on an equal plane with othe