Minister Pratima Bagri defends caste certificate controversy:Leader says, ‘110-year-old documents prove identity’; rejects Congress allegations completely

Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Urban Administration Pratima Bagri appeared before the State-Level High-Powered Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee on Monday to defend the validity of her Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate. The hearing was held at the office of the State Scheduled Caste Commission following a complaint filed by Pradeep Ahirwar, President of the Congress Scheduled Caste Department, challenging her caste status. The committee, headed by Principal Secretary Gulshan Bamra, along with Secretary Satyendra Singh and subject experts Matadeen Kaneria and Sudhir Shrivastava, heard submissions from both sides. Both sides submit documentary evidence The committee first heard Ahirwar and other objectors from Satna and Panna districts, who submitted documents supporting their objections. Pratima Bagri later presented her caste certificate, family genealogy, and related records before the panel. Officials said both sides submitted more than 150 pages of documents, which will now be examined before the committee delivers its decision. Congress claims Bagri community was not originally listed as SC After the hearing, complainant Pradeep Ahirwar said records from 1950, when the Constitution came into force, did not include the Bagri community in the Scheduled Caste list of the then Vindhya Pradesh. He also claimed: Ahirwar urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to remove Bagri from the cabinet if her caste certificate is found invalid. Committee to decide after examining records Committee officials said the documents submitted by both parties would be verified before a final decision is taken. Pratima Bagri speaks to Dainik Bhaskar Q: Congress is questioning your caste certificate. What is your caste? Pratima Bagri: I belong to the Bagri community, which is recognised as a Scheduled Caste in Madhya Pradesh. Before me, five MLAs from the Bagri community have represented Gunnor and Raigaon Assembly constituencies. The first was Kashi Prasad Bagri, followed by my late granduncle Jugal Kishore Bagri. Shivdayal Bagri and Mahendra Bagri also served as MLAs, including some from the Congress. Questioning only my caste certificate shows that they cannot accept a Scheduled Caste woman progressing in politics. I am the youngest minister in the state, and that seems to be the reason behind these allegations. Q: Why do you accuse Congress of being anti-women? Pratima Bagri: Statements made by Congress leaders reflect their mindset. State Congress president Jitu Patwari has made objectionable remarks about women in the past. Now Pradeep Ahirwar is questioning my caste certificate despite knowing that I belong to the Scheduled Caste category. This is a politically motivated campaign against me. Their real intentions will become clear in time. Q: This is perhaps the first time a minister has faced a public proclamation to verify their caste. How do you view this? Pratima Bagri: I have never seen such a thing happen to a public representative before. Public proclamations are generally made for criminals or in extraordinary situations. I have committed no crime. I am deeply hurt by the way I have been treated. Q: Will you raise this issue with the Chief Minister? Pratima Bagri: Yes. I will definitely discuss this matter with Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. If anyone wanted documents or evidence, they could have asked for them. Conducting a public proclamation was completely inappropriate. I will also seek an explanation from the concerned officials about why such an order was issued. Q: Congress says the Bagri community was not mentioned in the 1950 records. What is your response? Pratima Bagri: I belong to the Bagri community and am a native of Madhya Pradesh. I possess 110-year-old records that consistently identify my family as Bagri. Nowhere are we described as Rajputs or Thakurs. Our marriages have always taken place within the Bagri community. Therefore, the allegations made by Congress are entirely baseless. Q: How have your family and people from your constituency reacted? Pratima Bagri: I have received continuous calls from people in Satna district and my constituency. Everyone wanted to know why such a public proclamation was necessary. Many even offered to testify before the committee. I told them there was no need for now, but if the committee requires it, local residents themselves will confirm that the Bagri community belongs to the Scheduled Caste category in Madhya Pradesh. Q: What documents did you submit before the scrutiny committee? Pratima Bagri: We submitted records spanning 110 years, along with all relevant documents up to the present day. They clearly establish that we belong to the Bagri community. The committee will now independently examine the documents submitted by both sides before arriving at its decision. Q: Is it possible to obtain a fake caste certificate through collusion with SDM-level officials? Pratima Bagri: An SDM is the competent authority to issue caste certificates and does so under official responsibility. Not only my certificate, but those of my father and grandfather were also issued through the same process. If Congress claims these certificates were obtained through bribery, then it is also questioning the governments and officials who issued them over the years. These allegations are completely unfounded.