Bihar Cong in dock over listing names with caste

The Congress high command has been left embarrassed and senior Bihar leaders in the dock after the state unit bypassing laws released a list of officebearers that included caste names and the name of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

The Congress high command has been left embarrassed and senior Bihar leaders in the dock after the state unit bypassing laws released a list of officebearers that included caste names and the name of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

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Figuring in the list as an invitee, Kumar’s caste is mentioned against her name. A fuming AICC tried to play down the faux pas that is being attributed to state party chief Anil Sharma and AICC-in-charge of Bihar Jagdish Tytler under whose signature the list was released on January 6.

The party is expected to seek an explanation from them. It is also apprehensive of activists filing a PIL on the issue.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi washed her hands of the controversy on Tuesday. “I don’tknow,” she said when asked about the release of the list.

Kumar, when quizzed about her inclusion, said: “I belong to a political party. As a Speaker, I believe in strict neutrality of the chair.’’

The controversy that comes ahead of Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state, has raised a storm. The BJP criticised the “unconstitutional’’ action while a section of the state Congress has launched a signature campaign demanding immediate intervention by the high command.