The sharp remarks from JD(U) working president and MP Sanjay Jha followed Gandhi's comments at a Patna event, where he dismissed the caste survey conducted by the Kumar-led Bihar government as a "fake exercise" while advocating for a nationwide caste census.
“There cannot be a bigger hypocrisy than this,” Jha told PTI. “I was a witness to Gandhi remaining silent when Nitish Kumar strongly and logically advocated for the caste census during INDIA bloc meetings held in various locations.” Kumar’s JD(U) was previously part of the INDIA bloc before severing ties with the opposition alliance to align with the BJP.
Bihar’s Caste Survey Under Scrutiny
Jha emphasized that Bihar’s caste survey, conducted and released while Congress was a coalition partner in the Kumar-led state government, was a landmark step towards social justice. “Nitish Kumar is the only leader since 1931, when a nationwide caste census was last held, who has taken the initiative to scientifically count the population of different castes,” Jha said.
He dismissed Gandhi’s criticism of the survey, calling for specificity instead of vague accusations. “If Rahul Gandhi believes the Bihar caste survey overcounted or undercounted any communities, he should clarify. Skirting the issue does not help,” Jha added, noting that Kumar has used the findings to expand the scope of reservation, though the matter is currently under judicial review.
Karnataka Caste Data Under Question
Jha also took aim at the Congress-led Karnataka government, accusing it of withholding the state’s caste-wise population data for years. “While Congress criticizes Bihar’s efforts, their own government in Karnataka has been sitting on caste census data without releasing it. This exposes their lack of commitment to social justice,” Jha said.
The remarks reflect the deepening political divide over the issue of caste census, with parties like JD(U) and Congress clashing over approaches to caste-based data collection and its implications for social equity and electoral politics.
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