New Delhi/Bengaluru: Over three speeches in two days in Karnataka’s Kolar, Bhalki and Humnabad this week, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi sought to stipulate a brand new political technique focussed on backward courses. The transfer seems to be an try by the opposition social gathering to re-invent the ‘Mandal’ — a time period used to explain caste-based politics — to counter the BJP’s ‘Kamandal’ or Hindutva plank.
Accusing the Narendra Modi-led authorities of “hiding” the 2011 Socio Financial and Caste Census knowledge, Gandhi, whereas talking in Kolar Sunday, demanded that quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes be “proportionate to their inhabitants”, and sought removing of the 50 per cent cap on reservation. He additionally lamented that solely 7 per cent civil servants of the secretary rank belong to OBC/SC/ST communities.
This isn’t the primary time Gandhi has spoken concerning the caste census. Final 12 months, he made an identical pitch in Telangana’s Kothur, stating that the individuals of the nation want to grasp the “make-up of the Indian inhabitants”.
The caste census additionally figured as a subject of dialogue on the Congress’s Udaipur Nav Sankalp Shivir final 12 months. Thereafter, it was ratified on the Raipur plenary in February. What’s completely different now could be that the social gathering, which appeared to undergo the rigmarole by elevating the caste census problem on and off, is pitching it strongly and constantly whereas incorporating recent parts like removing of the 50 per cent cap and proportional reservation. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has additionally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, putting “on document” the demand for an “up-to-date caste census”.
So, what’s the Congress as much as?
Countering Karnataka BJP & Modi surname row
Within the quick context, it appears to be making an attempt to counter the Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka authorities’s determination to juggle reservation classes and limits for backward courses and SCs/STs earlier this 12 months.
With the intention to earn the backing of the Vokkaligas and cement the help of the agitating sub-sects of Lingayats, Bommai carved out two new classes ‘2C & 2D’ and gave them 2 per cent every, rising the previous’s share to 4 per cent from 6 per cent and the latter’s to 7 per cent from 5 per cent. This was performed after eradicating Muslims from the backward courses record.
Nonetheless, the Panchamasalis, the largest sub-sect of the Lingayats, rejected this provide as its leaders mentioned that they don’t consider in snatching from one group for the good thing about one other.
By the way, in Karnataka, the Congress itself has not launched the findings of the 2015 Socio-Financial and Academic Survey (caste census) regardless of being in energy between 2013 and 2018 by itself and an extra 12 months in coalition with the JD(S).
One other quick motive for Gandhi’s give attention to OBCs, SCs and STs is the way in which the BJP has sought to painting Gandhi’s controversial comment concerning the ‘Modi’ surname as an affront to OBCs. The allegedly defamatory comment led to his conviction and subsequent disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Senior Congress leaders ThePrint spoke to mentioned that it’s vital to place the message throughout — now greater than ever — that the Gandhi scion didn’t insult OBCs.
“In response to our demand for a JPC (on the Adani problem), they introduced up OBC. So, it’s honest that we ask them why they aren’t releasing OBC knowledge when they’re so involved concerning the group. Particularly for the reason that PM himself claims that he’s from the group,” mentioned a senior social gathering chief who’s amongst these engaged on the social gathering’s technique within the run-up to 2024.
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Bid to dent BJP’s Hinduism plank
There may be, nevertheless, a bigger context. Earlier this month, 20 opposition events gathered at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin’s ‘social justice’ convention. The caste census, quota for economically weaker sections and the Karnataka authorities’s quota re-jig amongst different points got here up for deliberations. Gandhi’s remarks made within the final two days could possibly be seen on this context. Final week, he met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose authorities is conducting a caste census within the state.
In accordance with educational and political analyst Dr. Chandrachur Singh, the rationale behind the Congress’s technique to push the caste census, aside from the anti-OBC jibe in opposition to Rahul, is to additionally “deflate” the BJP’s thought of Hinduism.
“There are two issues that emerge right here by way of Congress technique. First, it’s a indisputable fact that elections in most Indian states happen alongside caste traces. What the BJP does is, it tries to embalm the entire caste system with the Hinduism and nationalism plank. So, focussing on caste can assist Congress dent the BJP’s Hinduism plank,” Singh advised ThePrint.
He additional mentioned: “The second factor that emerges is that after caste numbers are recognized, the Congress can play on caste id and ask what the BJP has performed for marginalised castes despite its Hinduism push.”
Whether or not it’s going to work or not will rely extra on what the Congress does than what it says, Singh added. He believes that the social gathering must determine caste teams, go to them and provide sops as “one thing tangible must be proven past only a demand for caste census”.
“Previously, Congress has spoken on caste however not performed something. For instance, the Mandal Fee was constituted by Indira Gandhi however the report was applied by V. P. Singh. Congress must be seen sustaining this pitch and doing one thing about it,” Singh mentioned.
The BJP known as the Congress’s caste census pitch a “gimmick”.
“It’s only a gimmick of the Congress social gathering. Congress traditionally ignored backward courses and Dalits. Whether or not through the report of Kaka Kalelkar Committee or Mandal Fee, they opposed,” BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash advised ThePrint.
He added: “Rahul Gandhi’s father, Rajiv Gandhi opposed the Mandal Fee report on the ground of the Parliament. Earlier than elections, Congress comes up with the concept of ‘Nyay’, which doesn’t get applied after election. Rahul Gandhi is just deceptive the individuals.”
‘Might play out as drawback’
Talking on situation of anonymity, some Congress leaders, nevertheless, identified the “logistical difficulties” in conducting a caste census. “There are castes, for instance, who’re tribals in some states and Brahmins in others. There are different castes which might be SCs in some states and STs in others. When a caste census is completed, such discrepancies crop up,” mentioned a senior social gathering chief.
Others mentioned that it could play out as an obstacle to the Congress in some states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar the place ahead castes type an important vote financial institution. “It could alienate the Bhumihars in Bihar, for instance, however we have now to take a principled stand on this problem,” mentioned one other social gathering chief.
In response to a query from ThePrint on whether or not the caste census could possibly be a typical ballot plank to convey the opposition collectively in 2024, Congress chief Kanhaiya Kumar mentioned that not simply the opposition, however “everybody together with the BJP” ought to come collectively to demand that caste-wise inhabitants knowledge be collected and made public.
“This isn’t about opposition unity, however unity of the nation. We wish the BJP additionally to hitch us. The BJP ought to maintain a press convention and inform the nation whether or not they need to depend the individuals on this nation or not. We don’t simply need to unite the opposition. The PM retains saying 140 crore in his rallies, so we need to know whether or not we are literally at 140 crore or not,” mentioned Kumar.
Caste in politics
As for the reservation conundrum in Karnataka, it was H.D. Deve Gowda who first introduced Muslims into the backward courses record with a 4 per cent reservation in 1995. This was probably the primary time a non secular minority was included within the backward courses record that was neither opposed nor performed away with by his successors, together with three BJP chief ministers.
Completely different units of leaders, throughout social gathering traces, have tried their very own distinctive caste combos to succeed and depart behind a legacy.
Devaraj Urs, the longest serving chief minister of Karnataka who served a complete of seven years over two phrases, efficiently united the splintered backward courses with social welfare programmes, together with land reforms whose advantages these sections felt.
In 2008, B.S. Yediyurappa mixed the Lingayats and backward courses, particularly by social engineering, incomes the help of SC-Left, a bit that contains among the most oppressed communities.
In 2013, Siddaramaiah stormed to energy in 2013 with the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward courses and Dalits).
With inputs from Shanker Arnimesh
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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