In a fiery Lok Sabha session on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused BJP MP Anurag Thakur of “insulting and abusing” him during the discussion on the Union Budget. Thakur’s jibe that “those whose caste is unknown talk about the caste census” sparked Gandhi’s ire, highlighting the contentious nature of the caste census issue in Indian politics.
“Those whose caste is not known, talk about the caste census. I want to remind the Speaker that in this House itself, a former prime minister RG-1 had opposed reservation for OBCs,” Thakur said during the heated debate. This remark was perceived by Gandhi as a direct attack on his stance and promises regarding caste-related issues.
Responding to Thakur, Gandhi emphasized his commitment to the caste census, a key promise of the Congress party for the 2024 general elections. “You can insult me as much as you like, but we will pass the caste census in Parliament,” Gandhi declared, underscoring his resolve to bring this issue to the forefront if the INDIA bloc comes to power.
Thakur, however, denied targeting anyone specifically with his comments. “I had said that someone who doesn’t know about caste talks about census. I did not name anyone,” he clarified. Despite this, Gandhi stood firm on his accusation, stating, “Whoever raises the issues of Adivasi, Dalit, and the backward, is abused. I will happily accept these abuses… Anurag Thakur has abused me and insulted me. But I do not want any apology from him.”
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The caste census has been a significant point of contention, with the Congress party advocating for it as a means to better understand and address the needs of various caste groups in India. Rahul Gandhi previously described the exercise as an “X-ray of India,” essential for revealing the true demographics of the nation. “No one knows how many backwards, Dalits, and tribals are there (in the country)? Those who form the biggest chunks of the population don’t know their numbers. The BJP government does not want caste data. However, we will get an X-ray of India done to ascertain the population of various caste groups. The country will change once the caste census is done,” Gandhi asserted.
The BJP, on the other hand, accuses the Congress of attempting to divide the country along caste lines. This clash over the caste census is emblematic of the broader ideological battle between the two major political parties in India, each vying for the support of the country’s diverse electorate.