Rahul Gandhi: The demand for a caste census as a tool to ensure social justice has been raised frequently by Congress MP and LoP Rahul Gandhi. On August 24, he revived the demand through a tweet on the caste census, eliciting a political storm and inviting sharp criticism from the BJP.
Rahul Gandhi Advocates for Caste Census as a Pillar of Social Justice
Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet on the microblogging platform X, said that a caste census was of paramount need for a policy framework that strengthens social justice. He added that while the Indian Constitution guarantees justice and equality to every citizen, the reality stands in sharp contrast to what it is aspired to be, as enshrined on paper. For Gandhi, he denies the opportunity and progress to 90% of the population in the country—Bahujan, comprising Dalit, Adivasi, OBC, minority, and economically deprived sections from the general category. He equated it with running a 10-cylinder engine with one cylinder, and not using its full capacity.
He said that the caste census would amount to more than a head count. The caste census will act like an “x-ray” of society, revealing how resources are allocated and at what levels there is underrepresentation. He said that the data which will come out of the caste census is instrumental in addressing several pending problems, such as revising the 50 per cent cap on reservations, putting up fair representation in government institutions and education.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s Sarcastic Retort to Rahul Gandhi’s Caste Census Push
However, the BJP has not taken kindly to Gandhi’s demand for a caste census. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari reacted to Gandhi’s tweet with biting sarcasm, asking why, if he was so keen on a caste census, he had not done it when his party was in office. Tiwari continued, even going on to say that Gandhi should seek mental health treatment, as he seemed to want to know everybody else’s caste while steadfastly refusing to divulge his own.
Lallan Singh Criticizes Gandhi’s Inconsistent Stance on Bihar’s Caste Census
Joining the fray, Union Minister Lallan Singh termed all of Gandhi’s statements as insincere. He pointed out that while in Opposition, he never praised the caste census done in Bihar, adding it to his recent advocacy, saying that now his “crocodile tears” are nothing but a means to mislead the public.
The call by Rahul Gandhi for a caste census has turned controversial, underlining the deep fault lines of politics in India’s issues of social justice and representation. While he couches the caste census in the rhetoric of fulfilling constitutional goals of equality and justice, to his opponents, this act is rank opportunism driven by insincerity. Hence, the debate is continuous and holds important ramifications for India’s social and political scene.