Nitish Kumar-led government with his coalition party Rashtriya Janata Dal has tried to prove their loyalty towards backward classes by carrying out a caste-based survey in Bihar. This is the first time any State has ever conducted a caste-based survey and the attempts are being made to create a controversy. Indeed, the Central government reserves the right to hold a census which could not take place due to the pandemic. The last nation-wide census was held in 2011 and was due in 2021. If the reports are to be believed, the next census will possibly be held directly in 2026. However, Congress, Janata Dal (U), RJD along with other Opposition parties have demanded for the census to be held on priority. Since the Centre declined, the Bihar state government decided to hold a caste-based survey as state governments do not have the right to conduct a census and published the report just a few days ago.
This survey is now being politicised and questioned. The survey has evidently unnerved the ruling BJP because it’s a lose-lose situation for them. If they oppose the survey then it’ll be perceived that the saffron party is against the OBCs and they cannot openly back it since that has never been their stance. That’s why BJP isn’t ready to hold a caste-based survey at the national level. Now, during a campaign meeting at Chhattisgarh Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself said that the poor people are the biggest caste in the country. He also added that Congress’ intentions are to destroy India as a country by creating a divide within the Hindu population. This means that they do not agree with the caste-based survey demanded by Congress and other Opposition parties.
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It also seems that the ruling party is bothered by the OBC issue constantly raised by Rahul Gandhi all over the country. This has forced BJP leaders to shout at the top of their lungs that their party works for OBCs at every platform they could find. Modi accusing Congress of creating divide between Hindu populace is only part of a similar agenda. BJP had levied similar accusations against former prime minister V P Singh when he implemented recommendations of the Mandal Commission. Singh’s government had come to power by BJP’s backing while the Mandal vs Kamandal debate was at its peak. Mandal Commission’s main and perhaps the most crucial recommendation was to grant 27% reservation to OBCs which was met with widespread criticism throughout the country. Savarnas had refused to agree to such a reservation, while BJP had called the move as anti-Hindu. The argument of Mandal vs Kamandal was what then led to BJP into uniting Hindus together which includes L K Advani’s famous Rath Yatra movement. V P Singh opposed the Rath Yatra which in turn resulted in BJP withdrawing their support to the government. In short, the decision to implement the Mandal Commission’s report is what led to the collapse of V P Singh government. The Congress government which came to power later implemented the recommendations of the Mandal Commission and 27% reservations for OBCs came into effect. Now, certain communities are demanding 27% reservations for themselves as well, the roots of which lie in the recommendations of the Mandal Commission’s report. The respective commission was founded in 1979 when Morarji Desai was the prime minister. The BJP’s stance is suspicious because they find caste-based survey to be a hurdle in terms of unity amongst Hindus.
The Constitution has granted reservation for OBC communities in panchayats, municipalities, zilla panchayats, State assemblies and Lok Sabha and hence, it is necessary for caste-based surveys to be conducted. Otherwise, how will constituencies be notified as reserved? Secondly, such surveys will help in identifying people who are economically, educationally and socially backward and steps to improve their circumstances can be undertaken accordingly. So, how are caste-based surveys exactly a problem? How will they create a divide amongst Hindus? And if at all a divide has to happen, it will happen naturally given the long history of caste-based systems in the society that has existed for centuries. And why only Hindus? The caste-system is followed by Catholics and Muslims as well. Will they not be affected by the decision as well? So why should the BJP think only about Hindus? That means their intention is to clearly politicise the issue. However, it’s problematic for them only when someone else does it.
