New Delhi: Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Anand Sharma has questioned the party’s demand for nationwide caste census, saying it would not just amount to a “fundamental departure” from its long-standing policy but can also be “misconstrued” as disrespecting the legacy of former prime ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi.
In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on 19 March, when the CWC members met for discussion on the party manifesto, Sharma made a frontal attack on the idea of caste census, strongly advocated by Rahul Gandhi, saying it would amount to endorsing “identity politics” that the party has “never” done.
Sharma had skipped the meeting of the party’s highest decision-making body.
“In my considered view, a Caste Census can not be a panacea nor a solution for unemployment and prevailing inequalities. A fundamental departure from time honoured policy on this critical and sensitive subject has major long-term national implications. As a party with an inclusive approach, the Congress should strive to reclaim its role as builder of national consensus and build a harmonious society. The articulation of Party position should be balanced and eschew the radical posturing of regional and caste based organisations,” he wrote.
Sharma, who had sought sweeping reforms in the party organisation as a member of the ginger group ‘G-23’ in 2021, is upset after being overlooked for renomination to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh last month, according to Congress sources.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi was made the candidate but the party was left red-faced as six of its MLAs and three Independent legislators cross-voted in favour of BJP’s Harsh Mahajan.
In 2022, ahead of the Himachal Pradesh polls which the Congress eventually won, Sharma had quit as the chairperson of the party’s steering committee for the hill state.
His letter against caste census comes days after Kharge announced the Congress’s poll promise of a “comprehensive social, economic and caste census” as part of the party’s “guarantees”.
In the three-page letter, Sharma invoked statements made by Indira and Rajiv Gandhi in making his case that historically, the Congress never pivoted its politics around caste, while being mindful of the fact that it is a “reality of Indian society”. The party’s approach has been “inclusive” and “non-discriminatory” in formulating policies for equity and social justice, he said.
He went on to refer to Indira’s slogan, made in 1980, ‘Na Jaat Par Na Paat Par, Mohar Lagegi Haath Par’, and quoted excerpts from Rajiv’s speech in the Lok Sabha, made after the nation-wide instances of violence after the implementation of the Mandal Commission report.
“We have problems if caste is defined to enshrine casteism in our country…We have problems if casteism is going to be made a factor for parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies…The Congress cannot stand by and watch this nation being divided…..,” Sharma quoted the former prime minister’s speech delivered as the then Leader of the Opposition.
“Departure from the historic position is a matter of concern for many Congressmen and women across the country. It calls for reflection. In my humble opinion, this will be misconstrued as disrespecting the legacy of Indira ji and Rajiv ji. Also by default, that will be an indictment of successive Congress Governments and their work for empowerment of the disadvantaged sections,” Sharma said.
The district and state-level Congress committees should have been roped in to build an internal consensus “to endorse the policy as is required in a democracy”, he added.
“All Census Commissioners”, since Independence, have also argued against a national caste census “citing overlap, duplication, data lacking in accuracy and doubtful authenticity”, Sharma asserted.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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