In a heated exchange in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attacked the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi over allegations of caste discrimination in the preparation of the national budget. Responding to a remark by BJP colleague Anurag Thakur, Sitharaman cited instances of the Nehru-Gandhi family's actions against reservations for marginalized communities, exposing their hypocritical stance. The topic of caste-based census further escalated tensions in the House, with Gandhi vowing to fight for its implementation.
In a heated debate in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi of caste discrimination in the preparation of the national budget. This followed a remark by BJP colleague Anurag Thakur, who alleged that the Congress had historically favored upper castes in policymaking.
Sitharaman presented instances where the Nehru-Gandhi family had worked against reservations for marginalized communities, highlighting their alleged hypocrisy. The issue of caste-based census further heightened tensions in the House, with Gandhi vowing to continue fighting for its implementation.
The debate on caste discrimination in India has been ongoing for decades. The country has a long history of social stratification and inequality, with the caste system playing a significant role in determining an individual's social status and opportunities.
In recent years, there have been efforts to address caste discrimination through affirmative action policies, such as reservations in education and government jobs for members of marginalized communities. However, these policies have also faced criticism from those who argue that they perpetuate reverse discrimination.
Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, has long been a vocal critic of the Congress party. In his speech in the Lok Sabha, he accused the Congress of ignoring the interests of lower castes and favoring upper castes in policymaking.
Thakur cited examples such as the Congress government's opposition to caste-based census, which he argued would help in identifying and addressing the needs of marginalized communities. He also accused the party of failing to fully implement the Mandal Commission's recommendations for reservations in education and government jobs.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly defended the government's record on caste discrimination. She presented several instances where the Nehru-Gandhi family had allegedly worked against the interests of marginalized communities.
Sitharaman cited Indira Gandhi's decision to abolish reservations in education and government jobs, which was later overturned by the Supreme Court. She also pointed to Rajiv Gandhi's admission that he had no intention of implementing the Mandal Commission's recommendations.
Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress president, responded to the allegations by vowing to continue fighting for the implementation of caste-based census. He argued that such a census would help in identifying and addressing the specific needs of marginalized communities.
Gandhi also criticized the government's economic policies, which he argued had disproportionately benefited upper castes. He called for a more inclusive and equitable approach to development.
Q1: What is caste discrimination?
A: Caste discrimination refers to the unequal treatment of individuals based on their caste membership. This discrimination can manifest in various forms, such as social exclusion, denial of opportunities, and economic deprivation.
Q2: What is the role of caste in Indian politics?
A: Caste plays a significant role in Indian politics, with political parties often relying on caste-based support. This can lead to policies that favor certain castes over others.
Q3: What is a caste-based census?
A: A caste-based census is a census that records the caste affiliation of individuals. It is intended to provide data on the social and economic status of different caste groups.
Q4: Why has there been debate over the implementation of a caste-based census?
A: There is debate over the implementation of a caste-based census because some argue that it could perpetuate caste divisions and stigmatize certain castes. Others argue that it is necessary to identify and address the specific needs of marginalized communities.
Q5: What are the current policies in India to address caste discrimination?
A: India has a number of policies in place to address caste discrimination, including reservations in education and government jobs, anti-discrimination laws, and affirmative action programs.
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Rahul Gandhi, who was on a visit to flood-hit villages in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, was stopped by police from crossing the Ravi river to the "zero line" villages on the Indo-Pak border. The Congress leader had spent the day assessing damage and meeting with victims before being told it was unsafe to attempt the boat crossing. This comes after the Supreme Court closed a case involving allegations against the Reliance Foundation's wildlife rescue centre in Gujarat. Meanwhile, forest officials have sought clarification from an IRS officer and his wife for allegedly building a hotel/resort in an ecosensitive zone at Panna Tiger Reserve. Stay updated with breaking news on our live blog on Instagram.
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