AICC Bihar in-charge Jagdish Tytler and state PCC chief Anil Sharma are likely to survive the storm over the release of the controversial list of the partys state executive that contained the caste name of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and other office-bearers,even as they face legal troubles after the registration of an FIR against them in Patna by a Dalit forum. Bihar Dalit Kranti Morcha,a voluntary group,on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Punaichak-based Harijan Thana under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complainant,front chairman Vidan Chandra Rana told The Indian Express: Congress leaders Tytler and Sharma have hurt sentiments of Dalits and insulted them by naming their castes in BPCC list,released here on 6 January. The police have ordered an inquiry. Though embarrassed,the Congress leadership is not inclined to take any action against Tytler and Sharma,it was reliably learnt. AICC general secretary (organisation) Janardan Dwivedi is holding an internal inquiry into the incident. Party sources said that it was a mistake to release the list with caste names,which was actually an internal exercise,but sacking Tytler and Sharma in an election year was not considered practical. Tytler,meanwhile,sought to wriggle out of the controversy claiming that the internal document was stolen and leaked to the media. You find out who brought the list. It is an internal document. So many things are mentioned in internal papers. But what is important is what comes out officially, he said in Delhi. Sharma termed it a conspiracy of political rivals. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attacked the Congress,saying,Congress has always been a casteist party and its list reflected it amply. The party leaves no chances to criticise us when we talk of Dalit welfare,but the party leaders are groping for an explanation now.
