TNR Desk
Weeks after the Congress ignored him for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh and instead fielded Abhishek Manu Singhvi, former Union Minister Anand Sharma has criticised his own party over its promise of caste census.
Having his roots in Shimla, Anand Sharma opposed former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s caste census promise and called it detrimental to democracy. In a two-page letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, he wrote, “The Congress never engaged nor endorsed identity politics.
In my humble opinion, this (caste census) will be misconstrued as disrespecting the legacy of Indira ji and Rajiv ji…” He quoted Indira Gandhi’s statement of 1980 ‘Na jaat par na paat par, mohar lagegi haath par’; Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘…We have problems if casteism is going to be made a factor for parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies…’ to present his opinion.
“Congress as a mass movement has always encouraged internal discussion and debate on issues of national importance and formulation of policies on social issues….social and economic backwardness has always been the sole guiding criteria for affirmative action.
A fundamental departure from time-honoured policy on this critical and sensitive subject has major long-term national implications…. As a party with inclusive approach, the Congress should strive to reclaim its role as builder of national consensus and build a harmonious society.
The articulation of party position should be balanced and eschew the radical posturing of regional and caste based organisations,” wrote Anand Sharma.
During his recently concluded ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, Rahul raised the issue several times. He has made the demand for caste census a major poll plank ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Singhvi had lost the election despite the Congress having its government in Himachal with 40 MLAs in the 68-member Assembly. BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan won after six Congress MLA cross-voted in his favour.
