Congress forgets its own leader: What Rajiv Gandhi Said on Caste Politics Three Decades Back

One remembers Rajiv Gandhi because CWC's decision on the nationwide caste census and removing a cap of 50 percent on the reservation is in sharp contrast to the stand taken by the former Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi, during his speech, had warned the V P Singh government against using caste for furtherance of political motives and creating tension in the country, This he had said on more than one occasion in his speech. He had even gone to the extent of describing V P Singh's decision as ‘irresponsible’. In contrast, Rajiv’s son - Rahul called the CWC decision a ‘historic resolution’. Rahul said that the caste census was “a matter of ensuring justice and not politics”.

It seems that Congress and Rajiv’s son had either forgotten or turned Nelson’s eye towards Rajiv’s views on caste politics. Rajiv Gandhi had insisted on a comprehensive plan and ground preparation for the betterment of backward classes. Rajiv had said, “The problem cannot be solved by playing politics or by limited politically motivated manipulations’, Congress's decision, however, can be easily seen as an election gimmick since it has been taken ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The decision is taken when Congress is desperately trying to revive from the two consecutive defeats.

The immediate provocation for Congress to think along caste is the Bihar caste census. It might have sensed some chances to revive the party by playing caste politics. But how will Congress explain the delay in publishing a similar report in Karnataka, which was ready in 2018? The report was kept in cold storage as it was not politically convenient in Karnataka for the party. Why Congress has suddenly become sensitive about the betterment of socially backward classes? Congress’s latest decision has come out of political compulsion and not because of genuine concern for socially backward people.

Congress was playing caste politics when Rajiv Gandhi, in September 1990, speech aimed at a casteless societyRajiv had then said, “Our goal today must be a casteless society. Let us be clear about that. Do we still have that goal of a casteless society? If you believe in a casteless society, every major step you take must be such that you move towards a casteless society. And you must avoid taking any step that takes you towards a caste-ridden society. Unfortunately, the step that we are taking today, the manner in which it has been put, is a casteist formula”.

Rajiv’s criticism was aimed at V P Singh government but the same question can be asked to Rahul and other Congress leaders. Congress ought to reply whether it believes that caste politics, which it has resorted to, would lead us to a casteless society or will further inflame caste sensitives. Rajiv had then emphasized, “While accepting that caste is a reality, we must dilute that formula and break that formula by adding something on to it. So that at least we start inching away from the casteist formula”. Congress, under the leadership of Rajiv’s son, is precisely doing the opposite of what its leader said in 1990.

Rahul, in fact, described the CWC decision saying “I think it [caste census] is a very progressive and powerful step for the emancipation of the poor people in our country,”. It is serious that Rahul is contradicting his father by describing the CWC decision as progressive even if it poses a serious threat to flaring up caste sensitivity all over the country. The caste element has always posed a serious threat to unity and has worked against national interests.


But Congress is desperate to gain lost political ground. By wooing the caste, Congress, along with other political parties, is attempting to destroy newly emerged politics of development. Elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states have shown that beneficiary class played a crucial role in the election outcomes, setting aside, traditional caste politics. This trend is the biggest obstacle in Congress revival. Congress is trying to revive age-old caste politics, which is absolutely regressive. It will never take the nation towards a casteless society but will further strengthen caste sensitivity, which has been eclipsed in the past few years.