The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the Congress-led Telangana government for appointing French economist Thomas Piketty to an expert panel analyzing the state’s caste survey data. According to BJP leaders, this decision raises concerns about outsourcing a sensitive socio-economic study to a foreigner instead of relying on Indian experts.
BJP spokesperson and MP Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned the Congress’s intentions, alleging a pattern of the party aligning with foreign influences. He pointed out that the Congress had previously supported foreign media over Indian media and backed international agencies that, according to him, aimed to weaken India’s economy. “Now, they are involving a foreign expert in a highly sensitive process. What is their real objective?” he asked. He also questioned whether the Congress lacked faith in Indian economists and data analysts.
The Telangana government recently formed an 11-member committee to study the caste survey findings, but Piketty’s inclusion has drawn sharp criticism. The BJP argues that his economic model, which has been debated internationally, may not be suitable for India’s social structure.
In a separate statement, BJP leader G.V.L. Narasimha Rao accused the Congress of undermining India’s capabilities. He claimed that the Congress had always believed India was not good enough in governance, defense, or policymaking. “By handing over our caste demographics to a foreigner, they risk distorting data to fit a globalist agenda,” he said. Rao further alleged that Congress had a history of disregarding Indian institutions and intellectual resources.
While the Telangana government maintains that Piketty’s expertise will provide valuable insights, the BJP insists that sensitive national data should remain within India’s own intellectual and administrative framework. The controversy adds another dimension to the ongoing political debate over caste-based policies and their impact on social and economic planning in India.
