Leaders from more than dozen opposition parties on Monday came together pitched for caste-based census, saying “no census, if no caste census,” and underlined the need for opposition unity.

Urging opposition parties to come together to fight BJP, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O Brien extended an invitation to fence-sitters BJD and YSRCP to join opposition ranks, saying, “it is not the time to “remain in grey”. It is the time to be black or white. We have a task to fight the BJP.”

“I appeal to BJD and also the YSR Congress Party that they should come here,” Brien said.

Besides Stalin, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav also expressed their views on strengthening social justice in the county while echoing the demand of caste-based census. “There might be differences in the degree of problems on caste lines in each state. But the core of the issue is the same – gross discrimination. And, the medicine that can cure this is social justice,” Stalin said.

Yadav said the Mahagathbandhan (JDU-RJD) government in Bihar has already started a caste census.

Without mentioning central government or BJP, he said when governments in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand tried to raise reservation for OBCs, the governors stalled it, adding, “everyone knows at whose behest this was done.”

While his party leader Manoj Jha went a step further and suggested opposition leaders to give a call of “no census, if no caste census.”Echoing similar sentiments NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said opposition parties should “pass a resolution” to conduct caste census along with the national census.