(From left) Shaibal Gupta, Ali Anwar, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Nalini Singh, Syed Shahabuddin, Anurag Thakur and moderator Sankarshan Thakur at The Telegraph Bihar Debate 2011 at Maurya on Thursday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

NITISH KUMAR (FOR)

The Telegraph has chosen a very good topic for the debate like they do it in places like Calcutta and Jamshedpur. In the recently held elections, while most of the political analysts were busy calculating the caste equations, I could see what was coming as I had read the minds of the people during Vikas and Vishwas Yatra.

People of the state want to walk with the rapidly moving world. Therefore, development is the word, not the caste system.

While it cannot be denied that caste system is very deep-rooted in Indian society and in the psyche of the people, it no longer rules the roost when it comes to public life and politics. Bihar has pioneered many movements in the country and it will guide the politics of the country out of the caste- and religion-based issues. The fact that today most of us on the dais are over 50 and discussing something as mundane as relevance of caste-based politics implies that youth of the state no longer believe in these things and their aspirations and hopes are soaring high.

NALINI SINGH (AGAINST)

The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, has retained power banking on various development schemes initiated by him but feelings of caste are still not totally wiped out from the state. There are several people who have not been attached with the developmental schemes. The NDA government led by Nitish had attained power with 39.54 per cent votes. It means majority of people who have not voted for the ruling coalition still consider caste as a major factor during elections. Why people in Bihar don’t give vote in name of person and why during election caste plays a key role while selecting constituencies or in distribution of tickets? Why there were talks about Panchpania, Mahadalit and Kurmi voters during elections? The much-acclaimed helpline, Jigyasa, started by the chief minister is not functioning properly. He should enquire about this from his IT minister.

ALI ANWAR (FOR)

Caste is a core reality but if it has to be wiped out from the society, it has to be least mentioned in our day-to-day affairs.

There is a difference between caste and casteism. Casteism is an itch, which gives pleasure when rubbed. But then after a while it starts to prick. The holy Quran also doesn’t say anything about caste. In the Quran, Allah says, “Maine tumko kabeelon mein paida kiya taaki tumhari pehchaan ho sake (I have brought you in the world in groups, so that you can be identified)”.

Unfortunately, the caste system has also spread and descended among the Muslims. If we are really serious to wipe out casteism, we should first accept the presence of the disease (casteism). Only then we can take corrective measures.

Nitish Kumar is a doctor who is treating the itch called casteism without rubbing or mentioning about it. He is doing it very quietly.

SYED SHAHABDUDDIN (AGAINST)

Caste is and will continue to be relevant in Bihar politics. The same is evident from the fact that six major castes, which include three upper castes and three intermediary castes, are playing a dominant role in the politics of Bihar and taking away big pie of power in the state.

Out of 31 ministers, 12 belong to the upper castes and nine from the intermediary castes. This is not an equitable distribution. Every identifiable group wants its share.

Nitish Kumar has given us an historic election, has given us hope, made people of Bihar conscious and put Bihar on the right track. But it will be too much of an exaggeration to say that caste is no longer relevant.

It will be too early to write an obituary on the caste system in Bihar at present. Caste will always remain, the government should concentrate to abolish and finish casteism.

Earlier, 15 per cent of the population had captured 85 per cent of the country’s resources. Now, the ratio stands at 35:65. The day it becomes 50:50, I would reckon Nitish Kumar’s efforts.

If real development has to take place, the govern- ment has to emphasise on quality education, where every meritorious student gets due share.

ANURAG THAKUR (FOR)

Bihar has witnessed fundamental change in the past five years.

TOTAL HEADCOUNT: 500-STRONG

The audience at the debate. Picture by Deepak Kumar

This was the state where DMs and SPs were posted on the basis of their caste. Under the NDA government, things have changed and officials are deputed in field on the basis of their merit and not caste.

Caste is a social reality but people of Bihar have proved that the caste factor has been relegated to a less important factor by casting their votes on the issue of development. Nitish Kumar has ushered in a change which is attracting the attention of people from across the globe.

The Bihari identity has become a thing of pride in the state and the credit for this should go to the NDA government.

New Bihar has changed in many ways and the people of the state have high expectations from the present government. I believe this government will convert this challenge into an opportunity.

I, on behalf of the youth of this country, would like to say that we don’t vote on the basis of caste.

ABDUL BARI SIDDIQUI (AGAINST)

Social researchers have said that urbanisation and industrialisation lead to weakening of the caste system. I would like to ask where new industries or townships are coming up in Bihar. I find elite and so-called literate classes using caste for politics, employment and other benefits. When the deprived sections of the society were getting their dues, the elite section started to say that casteism has increased in Bihar. Caste system has been here for thousands of years. Politicians should rather follow raj dharm. I will give two examples here. There is a well-known management institute in the capital, which has both the chairman and the director belonging to the same caste. I do not know whether it is a coincidence or it is a deliberate decision. As the Leader of the Opposition, I have been given the privilege of appointing two private assistants.

If I select both from the Muslim community, it is natural that people will suspect my motives. So, have we actually moved beyond these things? I do not think so.

SHAIBAL GUPTA (FOR)

Caste as a fever has gone down in Bihar in recent times. Development works are going on, roads are being built there has been various schemes for underprivileged sections so that they can come on a par with other sections. Based on development works, caste feelings in the state will surely come down. However, it is very difficult to wipe it out totally. Earlier, caste factor was not only confined to just politics. It was present everywhere — from politics to judiciary to administration. People holding senior government positions used to prefer people from their castes in junior posts. Yet, people from this state have elected people simply on the basis of their credentials and not on the basis of their castes several times. George Fernandes, Acharya Kripalani and Minoo Masani were elected from various constituencies because of their good work and their credentials.

SHAKEEL AHMAD (AGAINST)

One cannot deny the fact the whole political capital of those speaking in favour and against the motion is caste. Nothing much has changed in Bihar and those who claim that people voted for development should realise the fact that had it been the case the vote share of Nitish Kumar would not have gone up by just three to four per cent in the 2010 Assembly elections.

If one accepts the claim that women and youths voted in large numbers in support of Nitish, one would also have to accept the base of voters who supported Nitish in 2005 has become narrower now.

When Lalu’s voters’ base became narrower due to the perception that he banked on the support of Muslims and Yadavs, the other backward castes started supporting Nitish. Nitish then went on to garner the support of non-Paswan Dalit votes and took help of the BJP to make inroads into the upper caste votes.

I wish to see a Bihar where caste doesn’t play a role in politics but at the same time one also cannot claim that it was not visible in the 2010 Assembly elections.