In the wake of Bihar’s caste survey results, the BJP’s allies in Uttar Pradesh have also started pressing for a caste count in the state, putting pressure on the Yogi Adityanath-led government, even as the Opposition INDIA bloc has stepped up its demand for a nationwide caste census. One of the constituents of the BJP-led NDA in UP is the Nishad Party, which champions the rights of the fishermen community. Its founder and president Sanjay Nishad is currently also the UP Minister for Fisheries. In an interview with The Indian Express, he elaborates on his demand for a caste census in UP, saying he is going to write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Adityanath in this regard soon. Excerpts: Like the Opposition, you are also seeking a caste census in UP? We support caste census. However, it is important to first understand a jati (caste) and its paryayvachi (synonyms). What was the system proposed by Simon Commission before the Independence. It is important to understand what was the William Crooke study on Tribes and Castes, that defined shoemakers, milkmen, fishermen, craftsmen etc. and their separate groups. And to understand how castes were defined by Government of India on the basis of their origins, structures… For example, Kewat caste originated in Mirzapur area of UP, or Mallah in Unnao, and then they spread. The caste-based census was first done in 1931. In the 1961 census, communities like Majwar, Gaur, Tureha, Kharwar, Beldar, Kohli etc. were put in the SC (Scheduled Castes) category. As per 1961 census manual, notified by President of India, our (Nishad community) population in UP was 70 lakhs. However, over the years, Congress, SP and BSP, for their benefits, removed us from the SC list and put the synonyms of riverine castes into the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category. My question is, if all the synonyms of various castes such as shoemakers or washermen were put in the same category then why not fishermen as well. So my point is that after President’s notification, changes can be done only after a debate in Parliament. But without a report of any Commission or a debate in Parliament, to put various synonyms of a caste group separately is unconstitutional. How do you view the Bihar caste survey? Bihar was part of Bengal and was formed as a state after Independence. For 40 years Nishads of Bihar were put in SC list, so it is wrong to enumerate them as OBC there now. The way it has been done in Bihar is unconstitutional and not right. That is why we demand caste census but want that first the riverine caste and its synonyms be defined as SC before they are enumerated through a caste census. So what is your demand? Caste census should be done but as per the Constitution… First it should be determined which castes are in SCs list and which are out of it. How would the communities affected by the now-repealed Criminal Tribes Act of the colonial British era be defined, whose plight is worse than SC/ST (Scheduled Tribes). My point is, caste count should not be done for politics of votes but as per the Constitution. What kind of caste census do you propose for UP? The census should not be done like it has been done in Bihar that has favoured communities of those in power for votes while dividing other castes into smaller groups. The fishermen community has been split and its numbers scaled down. The caste count should be done through the use of technology. It should be Aadhar-based and done through an App, where there are no chances of any irregularities. 1961 census manual should also be considered. You are an ally of the BJP, which is in power in both UP and at the Centre. How would you take it up with the BJP? Before any fight, you need proof, evidence. Raising our demand for listing all our community groups as SC, we had held a rally in Lucknow and written to CM Adityanath on December 18, 2021. The CM wrote to Registrar General of India over our demand, who, in turn, in January 2022, accepted Kewat, Mallah, Majhwar etc as SC and forwarded it to Union Social Justice Ministry. So, we got our evidence. Now, the question is about defining these communities. How would you take your demand forward? There is a government order in Uttarakhand, which defines Shilpakar (craftsmen) as a caste group and that all its synonym castes, like Kumhar and Tamta, would also be considered as SC. Our demand is to come out with a similar definition in UP for fishermen community and their synonym groups as well and bring them all in the SC list to remove the confusion. What will be your course of action? We are starting a campaign from Purvanchal soon and would then move to other parts of UP to press for the fishermen community’s rights and expose those who cheated us in the past, like Congress, SP and BSP. But before that I am going to write a letter to PM Modi, Amit Shah and CM Adityanath to demand that caste census should be done but not amid irregularities, that William Crooke report should be considered and that count should be done by taking a community as a whole. Other NDA allies in UP, such as Apna Dal-Sonelal and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), are now also demanding a caste census. Would you all join hands to convince the ruling party? Does it put BJP in a tough spot? There is nothing like that. See what happened in the past. When upper castes distanced themselves from Congress, SP and BSP and voted for BJP, they got 10 per cent quota. When women distanced themselves from these parties and voted for Modi ji, they have also been rewarded with reservation. So now, fishermen have decided to act as one community and ensure defeat of other parties and we are sure we will be rewarded similarly. However, it would not be possible for all of us to raise a united demand as our issues are separate, be it Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal-Sonelal leader) or Om Prakash Rajbhar (SBSP chief). Would your party contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on you symbol as your candidate had contested in the previous election on the BJP’s symbol. How many seats are you expecting to be given for contesting the polls? BJP has a big heart and we are sure that it would give us more than we expect. While we would contest on our party symbol this time, like Anupriya, we expect to get our share in Union Cabinet as well to be able to play bigger role in policy-making for our community. Parties should not forget that in each of 37 out of UP’s 80 Lok Sabha seats, there are more than 3.5 lakh Nishad community votes.
