Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The controversy over the mention of caste against the names of Bihars Pradesh Congress office-bearers,and the damage control exercise that the Congress had to swing into,draw attention to the thin line between the use of politics for caste-based empowerment and the use of caste for politics. While an important aspect of the controversy will pertain to the legality of the matter the extent to which the debated list is an internal document and therefore not in violation of constitutional proscription of the public use of caste names it should be borne in mind that theres little as sensitive as the question of caste in a country with a prolonged history
of untouchability,discrimination and deprivation. Therefore,every unnecessary reference to caste should be avoided.
But if that is the use of politics in addressing caste injustices,advertising caste variety of members to attract membership or adherence to an organisation could be tantamount to the exploitation of caste for political gains,which is distinct from taking stock of caste representation internally. Political parties,regardless of colour or ideology,owe it to the people of India to take cognisance of that thin line demarcating the acceptable from the unacceptable.
