News Brief

"Faltu Cheez, Has He Forgotten When Caste Census Happened?": Bihar CM Nitish Kumar On Rahul Gandhi Taking Credit

Nishtha Anushree

Jan 31, 2024, 03:07 PM | Updated 03:13 PM IST


Rahul Gandhi (L) and Nitish Kumar (R) (Facebook)
Rahul Gandhi (L) and Nitish Kumar (R) (Facebook)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday (31 January) reacted to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claiming credit for the Bihar caste census during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

"Isse badhakar koi faltu cheez hai? (Is there any talk more rubbish than this)," the Bihar CM said on Rahul Gandhi claiming credit and questioned, "Has he forgotten when the caste census happened?"

"I conducted it in the presence of nine parties. In 2019-2020, I would talk about conducting caste census everywhere, from Bihar Assembly to Council. Then in 2021, I went to meet the Prime Minister. They (BJP) gave an indirect approval," Kumar explained.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi, the Bihar CM further said, "That time you were in opposition. I was the one who planned everything. If someone is taking fake credit, what can I do? Let it be."

Rahul Gandhi said yesterday, "We (RJD and Congress) pressurised Nitish Kumar for caste census in Bihar but BJP doesn't want an X-ray. Nitish ji was stuck and BJP gave him an escape route."

As Swarajya explained earlier, that Gandhi's this reasoning for Nitish Kumar's exit from INDI Alliance defies logic as the Bihar caste survey data is already out, along with its economic report.

Contrarily, the release of the caste survey report of Karnataka, where Congress is in power, is being delayed again and again. However, CM Siddaramaiah has assured now that the report will be accepted soon.

Also, acting upon the report, the Bihar Assembly passed 75 per cent reservation bill to increase the quota for OBCs and SCs. Contrary to Gandhi's claims, BJP's Bihar unit supported caste census and reservation hike.

Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.


Get Swarajya in your inbox.


Magazine


image
States