Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a Congress leader, offered his perspective on the ongoing discussion regarding "jitni abadi utna haq" (greater population, greater right), which emerged following the Bihar government's release of its caste census findings. In contrast to Rahul Gandhi's stance on the matter, Singhvi underscored that individuals advocating for rights based on population should be aware of the potential consequences, as it may result in 'majoritarianism.' While Rahul Gandhi had advocated for "jitni abadi utna haq," Singhvi's deleted tweet cautioned against it.
Singhvi expressed his views on Twitter but later deleted the tweet. In his tweet, he stated, "Equality of opportunity is never the same as equality of outcomes. People endorsing #jitniabadiutnahaq have to first completely understand the consequences of it. It will eventually culminate into majoritarianism." Subsequently, in an interview with news agency ANI, Singhvi clarified that his tweet opposing Rahul Gandhi's perspective did not signify a change in the Congress party's stance. He emphasized the necessity of conducting a caste census to gather factual information, as required by court orders.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh distanced the party from Singhvi's remarks, emphasizing that Singhvi's tweet represented his personal view and did not reflect the Indian National Congress's official position.
The Bihar government, led by Nitish Kumar, recently released the findings of its long-awaited caste survey ahead of the 2024 general elections. According to the data, Bihar's total population exceeds 13.07 crore, with the Extremely Backward Classes comprising the largest social segment at 36 percent, followed by the Other Backward Classes at 27.13 percent.
Rahul Gandhi praised Bihar's caste survey on social media and highlighted the significant representation of OBC, SC, and ST groups, constituting 84 percent of the population. He emphasized the need to understand India's caste statistics and advocated for greater rights based on population size. Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Rahul Gandhi's remarks during a rally in Chhattisgarh, raising concerns about the potential impact on minority rights and resource allocation.
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