‘Nitish questioned Cong for not highlighting Bihar’s caste survey’ | India News
Though party functionaries claimed that Singh spoke about how he was urging the CM to relieve him from the post so that he could spend more time in his parliamentary constituency, sources said his resignation came after complaints from party cadres about his aggressive demeanour and his increasing proximity with RJD’s Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav. Still, it came as a surprise to many as Singh appeared to be in control of the party.
According to sources, Kumar criticised the Congress leadership for its advocacy of caste survey and, in a veiled attack on Rahul Gandhi, said, “A Congress leader is roaming across the country, pledging to implement a caste survey. However, he is silent about the one the Bihar government has already completed.” He went on to add, “Congress has been in office for so long, why didn’t they think about caste survey if they were so serious about it?”
Other leaders, including K C Tyagi and Mahima Patel, also spoke against Congress.
The Bihar CM faulted Congress for promising a nation-wide caste survey if voted into office. He said the Centre could only do it as part of the decennial census, as done till 1931, and only states could carry out caste surveys.
Kumar also questioned Congress for not highlighting Bihar’s caste survey even as it was turning the issue into a major poll plank. “He (Kumar) expressed regret that the way Congress was talking about the achievements of Karnataka government and its performance in Chhattisgarh, they are not talking about achievements of Bihar where they are allies and the party is part of the government,” a senior JD(U) functionary said.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Lalan Singh hit out at BJP and the media for reports on his likely resignation and said people didn’t know about his 37-year-long association with Kumar.
The party passed four resolutions, one of which said, “Bigger parties have greater responsibility. They need to show a large heart for the success of the grand alliance. They need to be liberal in giving responsibility to leaders who have experience and efficiency.” This was seen as a response to Kumar’s apparent sidelining in the INDIA group and his desire to play a larger role in the opposition bloc.
According to sources, Kumar criticised the Congress leadership for its advocacy of caste survey and, in a veiled attack on Rahul Gandhi, said, “A Congress leader is roaming across the country, pledging to implement a caste survey. However, he is silent about the one the Bihar government has already completed.” He went on to add, “Congress has been in office for so long, why didn’t they think about caste survey if they were so serious about it?”
Other leaders, including K C Tyagi and Mahima Patel, also spoke against Congress.
The Bihar CM faulted Congress for promising a nation-wide caste survey if voted into office. He said the Centre could only do it as part of the decennial census, as done till 1931, and only states could carry out caste surveys.
Kumar also questioned Congress for not highlighting Bihar’s caste survey even as it was turning the issue into a major poll plank. “He (Kumar) expressed regret that the way Congress was talking about the achievements of Karnataka government and its performance in Chhattisgarh, they are not talking about achievements of Bihar where they are allies and the party is part of the government,” a senior JD(U) functionary said.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Lalan Singh hit out at BJP and the media for reports on his likely resignation and said people didn’t know about his 37-year-long association with Kumar.
The party passed four resolutions, one of which said, “Bigger parties have greater responsibility. They need to show a large heart for the success of the grand alliance. They need to be liberal in giving responsibility to leaders who have experience and efficiency.” This was seen as a response to Kumar’s apparent sidelining in the INDIA group and his desire to play a larger role in the opposition bloc.
