Union Minister and senior BJP leader Kiren Rijiju criticized Congress for raising the caste census issue, specifically targeting Rahul Gandhi. Rijiju remarked, "Rahul Gandhi keeps asking about caste every day, but when we ask about their caste, how can they protest?" This statement came in the wake of BJP MP Anurag Thakur's controversial comment questioning the caste of Rahul Gandhi, which sparked a heated exchange between BJP and Congress leaders.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate responded strongly, expressing disinterest in Anurag Thakur's caste and emphasizing Rahul Gandhi's commitment to fighting for the rights of various marginalized groups. She mentioned individuals like vegetable seller Rameshwar, Nirbhaya's mother, and the family of the Hathras victims to illustrate Gandhi's advocacy for diverse communities. Shrinate also highlighted the affection and support Rahul Gandhi receives from the public, who view him as their son and brother.
The confrontation escalated in the Lok Sabha when Thakur's remark about Rahul Gandhi's unknown caste led to an uproar. Rahul Gandhi retorted, "You can insult me as much as you want, but you should not forget that we will get the caste census bill passed in Parliament." This incident revived discussions about Gandhi's lineage, which includes connections to the Dattatreya Gotra and Kaul Brahmin lineages through his great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru, and diverse religious backgrounds through his paternal and maternal family history.
The BJP's questioning of Rahul Gandhi's caste and religion has been met with assertions from Congress that he belongs to the Dattatreya Gotra of Kaul Brahmins. Despite the controversy, both Rahul Gandhi and his party have remained steadfast in their commitment to pushing for a caste census.
The debate over the caste census has been a prominent issue both in Parliament and in public discourse. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the matter, while Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi underscored that a socio-economic caste census is a demand for 80 percent of the population. The contentious discussions reflect the deep-seated political and social implications of the caste census issue in India.
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