In a surprising turn of events, the Congress party finds itself embroiled in internal discord as senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi took to social media to voice his apprehensions about the potential consequences of granting rights based on population, warning against the specter of ‘majoritarianism.’
Singhvi, through a now-deleted social media post, emphasized that “Equality of opportunity is never the same as equality of outcomes.” He urged those endorsing the slogan ‘jitni abadi utna haq’ (rights based on population) to thoroughly comprehend its ramifications, asserting that it could ultimately lead to a form of majoritarian rule.
This slogan, championed by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, gained prominence following the release of Bihar’s caste-based census data, which revealed significant demographics within the state.
However, Singhvi later removed the controversial post from the platform, attributing it to a “careless forward by a staff member” and clarifying his support for a caste-based census that determines rights proportionately.
The Congress party swiftly distanced itself from Singhvi’s remarks. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh clarified that Singhvi’s tweet represented his personal view and did not reflect the official stance of the Indian National Congress. Ramesh underscored that the party’s position was outlined in the Raipur Declaration of February 26, 2023, and the CWC Resolution of September 16, 2023.
The release of Bihar’s caste-based census data had prompted Rahul Gandhi to advocate for ‘jitni abadi utna haq,’ stressing the need to allocate rights according to the population. He pointed out that 84% of Bihar’s population belonged to OBCs, SCs, and STs, yet only a small proportion of central government secretaries were from these groups and managed a fraction of India’s budget.
The debate surrounding the caste-based census continues to intensify, raising questions about representation and equitable distribution of resources.
The Congress party’s internal divisions over this issue highlight the complex dynamics of Indian politics, where balancing the principles of social justice and representation remains a formidable challenge.
