Caste census sparks row: Nehru was against caste-based reservation, says BJP
The BJP on Thursday said the Centre’s ‘caste enumeration’ announcement, along with decadal census exercise, reiterated the NDA government’s commitment towards social justice and empowerment of the marginalised.
The party’s response comes a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “welcome-note” on the move, intensifying tug-of-war between the BJP and the Opposition over who deserved credit for the decision.
Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lashed out at the Congress for taking credit for caste census. Pradhan said India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was against caste-based reservation.
“Had it not been for BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, there would have been no concern for social sensitivity and no reservations in the country, because Pandit Nehru was staunchly opposed to the caste-based reservation,” he said.
Pradhan added that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave a long speech against OBC reservation. He also questioned the Congress for keeping the Mandal Commission report locked away for 10 years.
“The Janata government had established the Mandal Commission in 1977 to promote social justice. Who kept the Commission’s report locked for 10 years? The Mandal Commission report was finally implemented during the tenure of the VP Singh-led government, when the BJP supported the decision. It was our suggestion to implement the Mandal Commission report,” Pradhan claimed.
The Union Minister said the Congress had never undertaken a caste census because, historically, they had been opposed to it.
When the Centre announced the decision, some people were “visibly agitated”, he added.
“They were saying the government is theirs, but the system is ours. The country deserves to know the truth. The Congress party should answer why the caste census was last conducted in 1931. Who was in power in 1951? Who controlled the system then?” asked Pradhan.
He further accused the Congress of not bestowing Ambedkar with Bharat Ratna. “Despite staying in power for decades, they overlooked BR Ambedkar and did not consider him for the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. Several reports on reservation from the Kaka Kalelkar Commission to the Mandal commission were never implemented,” Pradhan added.
He alleged that the Congress’ idea of social justice was limited to justice for their families? “The Congress party has always been against the deprived, tribal, Dalit and backwards classes of the country. That is why their hypocrisy is visible today,” Pradhan added.
Responding to the statement of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who asked about the time frame within which census would be conducted, Pradhan said, “What can we say about those groups who live confined to a family? They should educate themselves better.”
India