New Delhi: A candidate in India’s presidential election has said the important issues at stake in the race are in danger of being undermined by a preoccupation with caste.
Presidential nominee of the Congress-led opposition, Meira Kumar, on Tuesday described the clash with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate Ram Nath Kovind as a “fight of ideologies” and not a contest between two Dalits (low-caste).
“There is a storm that two Dalits are pitted against each other for the President’s post and the truth of our society is coming out. Whenever similar elections have happened in the past, there were candidates who fought but their religion or caste was never discussed. But today it has been highlighted. We will undermine the importance of the president’s office if we say it is a fight between people of particular caste,” Kumar, a Dalit leader from Bihar, told media.
Kumar, 72, said freedom of press, social justice and the destruction of the caste structure were at the core of her ideology.
“I would contest the polls on the plank of democratic values, inclusiveness, social justice and destruction of caste structure. These values have united the parties that have fielded me for president against the ruling BJP-led national alliance’s nominee Ram Nath Kovind,” she added.
Kumar is seen as the opposition’s reply to the BJP picking Dalit leader Kovind. Elections for President will be held on July 17 and votes will be counted on three days later.
Kumar was the first woman speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) while Kovind is the former governor of Bihar.
Daughter of iconic Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram, Kumar said the caste system should be “buried deep down” in the earth.
“I don’t think the caste identification should play a room anymore. I am sad that caste is a factor in election. This is the election for the highest post in the country. This is not a political war but a fight of ideologies. I am pained by discussion over my caste. Why doesn’t the society rise above these divisions,” she said.
Commenting on recent attacks on Dalits, she said, “it is quite shameful that such things are happening in this country.”
“Some ideologies benefit the weaker sections of the society, some don’t. We will not tolerate atrocities on Dalits and weaker sections,” Kumar averred.
She also thanked the 17 parties that have supported her for the presidential post. She said she would launch her campaign from ‘Father of Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat.
“I have written to the collegium of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and asked for their support. I have requested them to listen to the inner voice of conscience,” she said.
She stressed that the post of President of India is “not symbolic” and that capability and experience must always supersede every other consideration while choosing the person for the post.
