The External Affairs Minister also stated that the ongoing conflict with Canada has been for some time due to the government’s “permissiveness” towards terrorism, extremism, and violence in the country

Washington, D.C. : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the extreme elements are a “small minority” and do not represent the overall Sikh community, emphasising that the Modi government has paid close attention to Sikh community issues.

When asked about the worries of the Sikh community in the midst of the ‘Khalistan’ crisis, Mr Jaishankar responded that the issue does not represent the opinions of the entire community.

“…Everyone is aware of the amount of attention that the Modi government has paid to the issues of the Sikh community in the last 10 years and the suggestions that it has made,” S Jaishankar said during a news conference in Washington DC on Friday.

I do not believe that the conversations that are currently taking place are typical of the entire community (Sikhs). Those who talk about terrorism, separatists whose arguments include violence…these are a small minority, and respective governments should act impartially. We should not treat this as an issue for the entire community.”

The External Affairs Minister also stated that the ongoing conflict with Canada has been for some time due to the government’s “permissiveness” towards terrorism, extremism, and violence in the country.

He claimed that Canada’s “permissiveness” towards terrorism, extremism, and violence is the root of the country’s continuous problems.

“The truth is that for a number of years now, we have had a persistent issue with Canada and the Canadian government. And the ongoing issue primarily centres on the tolerance of terrorism, extremism, and violence, according to Mr. Jaishankar.

He continued, “This permissiveness is also apparent in the absence of responses from their end to several significant extradition requests. In fact, it is not a secret that there are people and organisations in India who have openly admitted to being involved in violent and criminal activity.

Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, said last week that Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, was murdered by the Indian government.

India, however, has categorically denied the allegations, labelling them as “absurd” and “motivated.”

Notably, Canada has not yet made any public proof of the alleged murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar available.

In response to suspicions of Indian complicity in the death made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, India has banned its visa services in Canada.

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India issued a warning to its nationals and those visiting Canada amid difficult relations, urging them to proceed with “utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in the nation.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud headed a five-member Supreme Court bench that determined that Article 370 was a measure meant to facilitate Jammu and Kashmir’s unification with India, but only temporarily

Delhi, New: Today, the Supreme Court scheduled elections for the following year and supported the Center’s decision to remove Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud read out a majority ruling from the Supreme Court, stating that Article 370 was a temporary measure to facilitate Jammu and Kashmir’s unification with India.

The Supreme Court ordered state elections for September 30, 2024, and declared that Jammu and Kashmir should be treated on a same footing with other states “as soon as possible.”

The Supreme Court explained its ruling by stating that Jammu and Kashmir lost its sovereignty when it joined India and that its constituent parliament was dissolved at the time of the merger.

“It was not the intention for the J&K Constituent Assembly to exist indefinitely. All it was intended to do was draft the Constitution. Chief Justice Chandrachud stated that the President was not required to follow the Constituent Assembly’s recommendation.

On the other hand, the Supreme Court clarified why the state maintained its unique character even after merging with India, even if it lacked “internal sovereignty”.

“The unique circumstance that led to the introduction of Article 370 vanished together with the constituent assembly. However, the state’s circumstances persisted, and as a result, the Article was upheld by the Supreme Court.

“Legal and executive authority are available to every state in the union, though to varying extents. Some instances of specific agreements for various states are included in Articles 371A through 371J. An illustration of asymmetric federalism is this. The Supreme Court declared that Jammu and Kashmir shares no unique internal sovereignty with other states.

The bench rendered three distinct rulings: Chief Justice Chandrachud wrote the first on behalf of Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and himself; Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul concurred in the second verdict; and Justice Sanjiv Khanna concurred in the third.

Jammu and Kashmir was granted its own constitution and the authority to make decisions on all issues except foreign policy, communications, and defense under Article 370. The state’s unique status terminated when it was removed.

Article 35A, which was contained in Article 370, provided the former state the authority to determine who it recognized as permanent residents and granted them specific rights, such as the ability to work for the government and own property.

The Supreme Court declared that as the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory was only a temporary measure pending elections and the restoration of statehood, it was not essential to investigate whether it was legal.

We have seen as the Bharatiya Janata Party has tightened its grip on the Hindi heartland since 2014

For instance, we observe the BJP winning every single seat in the Lok Sabha in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and doing so twice in a succession.

In state elections, things are rather better for the Congress and regional parties. The consolidation of the Other Backward Classes, or OBCs, particularly the lower OBCs, is the foundation of the BJP’s power in the Hindi heartland.

It helps that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP’s well-known face, is also from a lower OBC community. The BJP has succeeded in uniting what was once a dispersed caste group along with persistent booth-level engagement of OBCs. Lower OBCs, which are frequently dispersed and small, used to be the ultimate swing demographic. As votes like Muslims, higher castes, and Dalits tend to have strong party and ideological attachments, these were the electors who would change administrations.

To break through the BJP’s dominance, the opposition, particularly the Congress, must mobilise the lower OBC vote. In close races, even a little shift in this vote can transfer seats from the BJP to the Congress.

This is why Rahul Gandhi’s call for a caste census and increased representation of OBCs is so significant. The impact will be felt as early as December, with the outcome of assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Changing Pages

Rahul Gandhi has successfully dispelled whatever uncertainty the Congress may have ever had about calling itself an OBC party. He correctly noted that three of our current Congress chief ministers are members of the OBC.

In practically every state, caste groups are demanding more representation. Agitations exist, and they can occasionally become violent. The OBC of today is knowledgeable about history and empowered by smartphones. Every state is fighting against the 50 percent cap on total reservations.

Therefore, it is critical to have up-to-date and accurate information on caste demography. In 1931, there was the final recognised caste census. Caste censuses are a concept whose time has come in 2023. Bihar just demonstrated that it is simple and feasible. Rahul Gandhi has so identified the appropriate problem at the appropriate moment.

For OBC youngsters all over India, the release of the Bihar statistics would make it clear how they may profit from the caste census. It supports their demand that the 50% ceiling be lifted.

Rahul Gandhi has criticised the BJP for just making modest efforts to advance the OBC. He has made the point that upper castes dominate the top levels of the bureaucracy and that OBC reservations for women in legislatures should be included.

We will gain clarity regarding caste demographics and economic status through a good caste census, in addition to caste demography. The Congress party and social justice might both benefit more from this.

Inspiring OBC Youth

In the 1990s, the Mandalization of Indian politics caused the Congress to suffer. Rahul Gandhi’s call for a caste census has the potential to turn the Congress’s vulnerability into a strength.

Data from caste censuses can show how well or poorly a community is doing. This will result in justifiable requests for quota increases and decreases through sub-categorization. By doing this, the Congress can firmly align itself with lower OBCs, who with Fevicol ka jod appeared to be loyal to the BJP.

The caste census pitch may increase the Congress party’s support if the Bharat Jodo Yatra strengthened its grip on its base supporters. Election politics in the Hindi heartland could become less one-sided with even a 2-3% vote shift from the BJP the Congress on this basis.

Beyond its rivalry with the BJP, Rahul Gandhi’s proposal has greater potential. Even local parties will be alarmed by the Congress’s potential influence on their supporter groups.

Rahul Gandhi is paving the road for the Congress party’s national vote share, which has been constant at 19–20% since 2014, by persistently supporting caste census and more OBC representation. young from OBC who are unemployed may see new chances open up for them through a rise in OBC representation, with unemployment being the largest problem for Indian young. This might sway young people, including first-time voters, to support the Congress. The BJP has performed exceptionally well in this sector thanks to PM Modi’s charisma.

Rahul Gandhi might have discovered his own ‘polarisation’ to take on the BJP given their uneasiness with the caste census issue.