Congress Questions PM Modi’s Commitment to Karpoori Thakur’s Legacy
Congress questions PM’s stance on OBC reservations, caste census.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Karpurigram, the birthplace of socialist icon and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the PM, questioning his commitment to Thakur’s legacy of social justice. The criticism comes as Modi prepares to address election rallies in Samastipur and Begusarai districts on Friday, October 24, 2025.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X to highlight historical and contemporary grievances. He pointed out that the Jan Sangh, a precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was instrumental in toppling Thakur’s government in April 1979 after the then-Chief Minister introduced reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Bihar. Ramesh questioned whether it is not a fact that Thakur faced severe criticism and abuse from leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jan Sangh at the time.
The Congress leader also accused Modi and the BJP-led government in Bihar of failing to protect the state’s 65% reservation law for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), OBCs, and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) under the Constitution. In contrast, Ramesh noted that the Congress government had successfully provided constitutional protection to a similar reservation law in Tamil Nadu in September 1994.
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Further, Ramesh challenged Modi’s stance on the caste census, recalling that on April 28, 2024, the PM labeled those demanding a caste census as “urban Naxals.” He also highlighted that the Modi government explicitly rejected the idea of a caste census in Parliament on July 20, 2021, and in the Supreme Court on September 21, 2021.
The Congress’s remarks come in the context of Modi’s visit to honor Karpoori Thakur, who was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2024 by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Thakur, a champion of social justice, is celebrated for his efforts to uplift marginalized communities, particularly through the introduction of OBC reservations during his tenure as Bihar’s Chief Minister.
The opposition’s pointed questions aim to cast doubt on the BJP’s commitment to Thakur’s legacy and social equity, accusing the party of undermining policies that promote inclusivity. As Bihar gears up for elections, the Congress is leveraging Thakur’s enduring legacy to challenge the BJP’s narrative and rally support among voters who prioritize social justice and equitable representation.
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