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Journalism of Courage
The Bihar caste survey report has strengthened the hand of the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), which is expected to bolster its narrative of being a champion of the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), non-Yadav Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Mahadalits. While the BJP in Bihar extended support to the caste survey, unlike the central party leadership, it has been questioning its methodology. In an interview to The Indian Express, Bihar BJP president Samrat Choudhary calls the survey a “divisionary” tactic, employed when “regional parties are forced to the wall”. Excerpts:
Regional parties want to keep clinging to caste for political reasons. (RJD chief) Lalu Prasad wanted to consolidate Muslim and Yadavs, but hardly did anything for their welfare. Nitish was seen as a development-oriented CM, but the caste survey puts doubts on his credentials.
(Plus) The survey data is not authentic. In 1931, when the British establishment included caste in the Census, we had to accept it because we were not independent. Today, we have a right to know our caste numbers and economic conditions with complete authenticity. Our personal details were taken while making Aadhaar cards, but we knew what details were being collected by government officials. In the Bihar caste survey, we do not know if details have been filled correctly. There could have been an OTP system, for example, to indicate to every family head the details keyed in by the enumerators.
We still support the caste survey wholeheartedly. We only have reservations about not being kept in the loop about the mechanism deployed to collect the data. The survey has many flaws and lacks transparency… Nitish Kumar did not opt for a foolproof mechanism. The CM seems to have done the survey to extend his political career. We are also unhappy with the way the state Chief Secretary said that there was no need to review the survey report; this is against the CM’s assurance to accommodate corrections.
The Opposition is in a temporary euphoria due to the survey. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is now talking about OBCs and EBCs. Why did the Congress not speak about these communities earlier, having ruled the country for over 55 years? Rahul also keeps apologising for the mistakes of (former PMs) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He looks confused.
It has already divided society. The survey has told each caste group its numerical strength. Is survey ne sabhi jaatiyon ko unki aukat bata di. Baat samaj ko jodne ki honi chahiye (This survey has shown the place of every caste. The objective should be to unite them). The survey will only demoralise castes whose numbers are not significant. What was the hurry in releasing the report without cross-checking the data, even after suggestions and corrections were raised?
This conversation is nonsense, and the Opposition would get little from it. The caste survey is not a counter to anything. Regional parties do things like this when forced to the wall.
(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s personality and his range of achievements. And development, of course.
Even when we were allies, it was Nitish’s government, not the BJP’s. He took credit for all the good work done by BJP ministers too. We were treated like assistants… We will now attack the Nitish government on the poor law and order situation and minimal industrial growth in the state.
It depends on the discretion of the PM. But the Opposition should remember that it is the BJP that has always supported reservation. We passed the women’s quota Bill recently in Parliament, we also gave the 10% EWS quota. Even when (former Bihar chief minister) Karpoori Thakur had brought in a quota within quota in 1978, we supported it as an ally.
Not even a remote chance.
