The BJP has questioned the appointment of French economist Thomas Piketty in the expert panel formed to analyse the caste census data in Telangana. It expressed concern over giving access to foreigners on our sensitive social data.
BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi asked why the Congress government had appointed a foreign economist when there were many experts in the country. He questioned why a foreigner was appointed when so many Indians control many foreign companies.
Piketty was a member of the 11-member committee formed under a retired Supreme Court judge Justice Sudarshan Reddy to analyse and interpret the data collected during the Socio, Economic, Education, Employment, Political and Caste Survey 2024 (SEEEPC survey), also known as caste survey.
The other members of the panel are Prof Kancha Ilaiah, Prof Shantha Sinha, Prof Himanshu, Dr Sukhadeo Thorat, Nikhil Dey, Prof. Bhangya Bhukya, Prof. Purushotham Reddy, Prof. Jean Dreze, Prof. Thomas Piketty and Praveen Chakravarthy.
Prof Piketty has done extensive research on economic inequalities. Trivedi recalled that there was criticism that his suggestions on tax policy were harmful to employees and the middle class.
He accused the Congress of joining hands with foreign forces that are criticising the Indian economy. He demanded an explanation on this.
“I also want to ask the Congress Party why India’s sensitive social data is being handed over to a foreigner. Additionally, I question why they have chosen Thomas Piketty, whose economic inequality analysis model has been widely debated. His approach reportedly favours high taxation on the wealthy while exempting certain privileged groups,” he said.
BJP is wondering whether the Congress party is doubting the competence of Indian economists. “Are there no economic experts in Telangana that they had to choose a foreigner, Thomas Piketty? India has no shortage of economic experts, with many holding top global positions,” he asked.
The BJP MP also raised suspicions as to why the Congress Party has consistently aligned with foreign entities over national interests. First, they stood with foreign media against India’s media. Then, they sided with foreign agencies to attack India’s economy. During elections, they were seen indirectly aligning with suspicious foreign forces. Before every parliamentary session, they appeared alongside foreign influences, he added.