On Thursday, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma expressed reservations regarding the party's advocacy for a nationwide caste census, cautioning that such a demand might inadvertently be perceived as undermining the legacies of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
In a letter addressed to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharma, a prominent figure within the G-23 faction that has advocated for organizational reforms within the Congress since the setback of the 2019 elections, emphasized that a caste census should not be viewed as a panacea for addressing unemployment and prevailing inequalities.
To bolster his argument, Sharma referenced Indira Gandhi's iconic statement from 1980, "Na jaat par na paat par, mohar lagegi haath par" (Vote for the hand symbol without considering caste or creed), and cited Rajiv Gandhi's stance against casteism, highlighting his remark that making caste a determinant for parliamentary and assembly constituencies would pose problems.
Sharma expressed concern over what he perceived as a departure from the Congress party's historical stance on this issue, urging introspection. He cautioned that deviating from this stance could be misconstrued as disrespecting the legacies of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
This development comes at a time when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly emphasized the party's commitment to conducting a caste census if it assumes power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress has positioned the caste census as a pivotal electoral agenda, with Kharge asserting that a nationwide survey is essential to comprehensively assess the socio-economic and political landscape across all communities.
Sharma, advocating for a more inclusive and consensus-driven approach, called upon Congress to reclaim its role as a unifier in building a cohesive society. He urged the party to articulate its position in a balanced manner, steering clear of radical postures adopted by regional and caste-based organizations.
