Caste census demand disrespecting Indira, Rajiv's legacy? Anand Sharma questions Congress' poll plank

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New Delhi: Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Anand Sharma has questioned the partys demand for nationwide caste census, saying it would not just amount to a fundamental departure from its long-standing policy but can also be misconstrued as disrespecting the legacy of former prime ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi...

In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on 19 March, when the CWC members met for discussion on the party manifesto, Sharma made a frontal attack on the idea of caste census, strongly advocated by Rahul Gandhi, saying it would amount to endorsing identity politics that the party has never done.. Sharma had skipped the meeting of the partys highest decision-making body...

His letter against caste census comes days after Kharge announced the Congresss poll promise of a comprehensive social, economic and caste census as part of the partys guarantees...

In the three-page letter, Sharma invoked statements made by Indira and Rajiv Gandhi in making his case that historically, the Congress never pivoted its politics around caste, while being mindful of the fact that it is a reality of Indian society..

We have problems if caste is defined to enshrine casteism in our countryWe have problems if casteism is going to be made a factor for parliamentary and Assembly ConstituenciesThe Congress cannot stand by and watch this nation being divided.., Sharma quoted the former prime ministers speech delivered as the then Leader of the Opposition...

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