On 22nd May, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, intensified his discourse on caste-related issues, taking aim at the judiciary. He underscored the contrasting treatment meted out to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who secured bail in a liquor scam case, juxtaposed with the plight of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who remains incarcerated. Gandhi insinuated that Soren's tribal identity might have influenced his detention, suggesting a systemic bias against individuals from Dalit or Adivasi backgrounds. Notably, Soren was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate in March on allegations of money laundering.
Rahul Gandhi was addressing a session titled 'Samvidhan Samman Sammelan' in Haryana's Panchkula. (Photo: India Today)
Under the banner of his "Jitni aabaadi utna haq" (Rights proportionate to population) agenda, Gandhi advocated for equitable representation, emphasizing the pervasive underrepresentation of India's vast populace, particularly from marginalized communities, in key sectors such as media and bureaucracy. This lack of visibility, Gandhi argued, perpetuates systemic disparities.
Gandhi's recent remarks further inflamed caste tensions by spotlighting the contrasting circumstances of Soren and Kejriwal, key allies within the I.N.D.I. Alliance, implicitly suggesting a deliberate marginalization of Dalits and Adivasis within the system.
Amid the formidable challenges posed by the Modi government, which have spurred unlikely alliances, the cohesion between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress appears tenuous. Instances of internal discord among leaders of these coalition partners have become increasingly common. Notably, Kejriwal's absence from Gandhi's recent rally in Delhi, ahead of the upcoming elections slated for May 25th, signals a strain in their alliance. Similarly, Congress leaders have been notably absent from the AAP's campaign efforts, underscoring the fragility of their political partnership.
In a moment of candid reflection, Gandhi openly acknowledged his deep-rooted association with the prevailing system, which he perceives as inherently biased against lower castes across all echelons of society.
While Gandhi's candid admission may aim to portray him as a stalwart advocate for marginalized communities, it also underscores the systemic biases that have long prevailed within the Congress Party's governance. Over its extensive tenure in power, this entrenched system has consistently marginalized Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, perpetuating a cycle of discrimination and exclusion.
Rahul Gandhi’s Comments
Speaking at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan on the 22nd of May, Rahul Gandhi said, “Two Chief Ministers were arrested. The tribal CM (Hemant Soren) is still in jail. He was arrested before and is still behind bars. The national media has forgotten him; it doesn’t talk about him… Mayawati is corrupt but not Naveen Patnaik, Lalu Yadav is corrupt…if someone is tribal or Dalit, he is automatically framed.”
“I have been sitting in the system since the day I was born. I understand the system from the inside. You cannot hide the system from me. How it works, whom it favours, how it favours, whom it protects, whom it attacks, I know everything because I come from inside the system. When my grandmother was the PM, my father was the PM, and when Manmohan Singh was the PM, I used to go to the PM’s house. So I know how the system works from the inside. I can tell you one thing, the system is aligned against the lower castes, severely and on every level…” Gandhi said.
"How can it be that 90 percent do not have merit? It cannot be so. So, there must be something lacking in the system. I found it. I dug out all the figures," Rahul said."In the media, senior anchors, senior influencers, media owners, senior managers -- not even one is a Dalit, tribal or OBC. I did not find even one," Rahul claimed.
Are Hemant Soren and Lalu Yadav Unfairly Targeted Due to Their Caste?
Rahul Gandhi's recent assertions have sparked a contentious debate over the alleged targeting of individuals from marginalized backgrounds in corruption cases. He cited examples like Hemant Soren and Lalu Yadav, suggesting that their caste identities play a role in their legal entanglements, while contrasting their treatment with that of Naveen Patnaik. This raises the question: who is responsible for this perceived bias? Gandhi's comments are seen as a pointed critique of the judiciary, thinly veiled under the guise of criticizing governmental systems.
In the case of Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, allegations of involvement in a land scam led to his arrest. The Enforcement Directorate's investigation uncovered a significant sum of cash exceeding Rs 36 lakh in Soren's possession, along with documents related to an ongoing probe into fraudulent land acquisitions. The agency claims that 8.5 acres of land are part of the alleged criminal proceeds acquired by Soren. Subsequently, he was remanded to judicial custody by the PMLA court.
Similarly, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav, currently out on bail, has faced convictions in multiple corruption cases. Notably, he was found guilty in the infamous Fodder Scam case and sentenced to five years in prison by the courts. Contrary to insinuations of bias from governmental or bureaucratic entities, it was a Special CBI court that delivered the verdict. The court concluded that Yadav had misappropriated public funds allocated for cattle fodder.
Was Hemant Soren's Adivasi Identity the Reason for Denial of Bail?
The recent grant of interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal until June 5th by the Supreme Court has raised questions about the differing treatment of political leaders in the eyes of the judiciary. While Kejriwal's bail amid the election campaign merits scrutiny, the contrasting situations between his interim release and Hemant Soren's ongoing detention beg exploration. Unlike the nationally prominent Aam Aadmi Party helmed by Kejriwal, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, led by Soren, lacks the same widespread recognition. Furthermore, Soren resigned from his Chief Minister post before his arrest, and unlike Kejriwal, he does not hold the title of party president, a role currently occupied by his father, Shibu Soren.
Soren's legal battle began with his plea against his arrest, which was dismissed by the Jharkhand High Court in April. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) pressed charges against him, a development acknowledged by the trial court. Despite Soren's attempts, including a bail plea rejected by the trial court, the legal landscape remains unchanged. Notably, the Jharkhand HC had reserved its order in February, culminating in Soren's plea dismissal two months later, adding layers to the ongoing judicial saga.
The Supreme Court's decision on May 22nd to reject Hemant Soren's plea challenging his arrest offers a significant perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding caste and judicial proceedings. Contrary to assertions by Rahul Gandhi and others, the apex court's rationale for declining Soren's plea did not stem from his tribal identity. Instead, the court noted that Soren's pursuit of parallel legal remedies, including a bail application while contesting the High Court's ruling on the arrest's legality, rendered his plea untenable. This ruling underscores that Soren's caste background played no discernible role in his arrest or the subsequent denial of bail, contrary to certain political narratives.
The focus on caste in the political landscape is evident in the Congress Party's strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Caste has emerged as a central theme in the party's electoral manifesto, which pledges a comprehensive caste census and resource redistribution based on its findings. Additionally, the manifesto promises to implement reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in private educational institutions, along with enacting the Rohith Vemula Act, despite Vemula's non-Dalit classification. Concurrently, the Congress continues its tradition of Muslim appeasement, committing to appoint more judges from the Muslim community to both High Courts and the Supreme Court, as outlined in its electoral promises.
Rahul Gandhi's recent engagement with divisive caste rhetoric, particularly targeting the judiciary, aligns with the Congress Party's broader electoral strategy outlined in its manifesto. Notably, the manifesto emphasizes enhancing the "autonomy" of various commissions dedicated to the welfare of marginalized communities, including those for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, and Other Backward Classes. While Gandhi and his party often accuse the Modi government and the BJP of fostering "divisive" politics, their own campaign strategy appears to reinforce an "us versus them" narrative. In this narrative, marginalized communities are positioned as the "us" against the perceived privileged upper-caste and affluent as "them,".
Rahul Gandhi Also Attacked the Indian Army
In a recent turn of events, Rahul Gandhi has extended his discourse on caste dynamics to encompass discussions surrounding the Indian Army, adding another layer of complexity to his critique of the caste system. Gandhi's remarks, made earlier this month, drew attention to what he perceives as a division among soldiers based on caste, particularly targeting the Agniveer scheme. By suggesting that the Modi administration has categorized soldiers into two groups—those from disadvantaged backgrounds like Dalits, Backward Classes, and minorities, and those from affluent families—Gandhi implied differential treatment by the government based on caste.
Rahul Gandhi's campaign tactics, from dubbing PM Modi as a 'pseudo OBC' to advocating for caste-based wealth redistribution, have stirred controversy and garnered attention. However, his recent focus on the armed forces and the judiciary has raised concerns. By scrutinizing the armed forces' internal dynamics and implying caste-based discrimination, Gandhi risks undermining the integrity and cohesion of one of the country's most esteemed institutions. Furthermore, his attacks on the judiciary, coupled with his divisive rhetoric, could potentially erode public trust in the judicial system and pose challenges for both the nation and the Congress party as they navigate complex caste dynamics in Indian society.
댓글