Opinion Cast in clay
The editorial Casting caste rightly raises questions about the need to insert caste in the Census.
The editorial Casting caste rightly raises questions about the need to insert caste in the Census. By giving in to pressure from a few political parties,the government has clearly abdicated its duty to rise above partisan politics. A caste-based Census is not only regressive but will further entrench the politics of hatred and quotas. Its a pity that despite Indias strides in economics and knowledge sectors,the government has shown its weakness in pushing socially relevant issues. India is struggling to maintain its federal structure with linguistic states; further classification on the basis of caste will divide the country. The government should reconsider its decision.
Ashok Goswami
Caste benefits
The editorial Casting caste was very topical. Theres one issue which would make caste inclusion in the Census problematic. As caste is being ruthlessly used without any scruples to obtain reservation benefits,everybody wants to jump on to the bandwagon of caste deprivation and make mincemeat of any rational affirmative action policy. One may hear of the creamy layer of a caste fighting to get itself de-notified from one list for inclusion in another category. J.H. Hutton did say that like the proverbial ostrich we cannot ignore the reality of caste,yet he could never have imagined the fecund and fertile imagination of people who would twist caste differences of yore to create new caste configurations. There is no wise Solomon now who could separate caste from reservation benefits in todays India.
John Alexander Nagpur
Backing khaps?
It is really astonishing that khap panchayats,which encourage honour killings,are getting support from the Congress MP from Kurukshetra,Naveen Jindal. Instead of opposing the unlawful activities of khap panchayats,he is supporting them so that the suffocating and unbearable orthodoxy can continue. Everybody should oppose the proposed amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act seeking prohibition of intra-gotra marriages by khap panchayats. We should rather award rigorous punishment to those who commit honour killings.
Kiran Sabharwal Delhi
Social evil
Whatever the personal conviction of Congress MP Naveen Jindal,associating with Khap Mahapanchayat was inappropriate and rightly Congress leaders were not appreciative of his move. The INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala went a step further calling for changes to the Hindu Marriage Act,which is ridiculous. The fact that khap panchayats are a law unto themselves,dealing out summary justice by indulging in barbaric killings of those involved in intra-gotra marriages,needs to be tackled with a multi-pronged approach. This is a social evil which is deeply entrenched in the psyche of the villagers and even in some cases of the educated class.
H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana
Mysore
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