Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday asserted that a caste census will be carried out in the state as was done in Bihar if the party gets a second term in the state.
Addressing ‘Nagariya Nikaay Evam Panchayati Raj Mahasammlen’, an event of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, she said, “If the Congress party is once again elected to power in Chhattisgarh, a caste census will be carried out in the state on the lines of a caste survey conducted in Bihar. I have spoken to (Chief Minister Bhupesh) Baghel ji in this regard.”
Citing results of Bihar’s caste survey, Gandhi said 84 per cent of the population of that state comprises people belonging to Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.
“Is the strength of people belonging to OBC, SC, ST communities in top posts 84 per cent? Don’t they have rights? Why can’t there be a caste census? It must be carried out,” she said.
The ruling party’s announcement is being seen as a major move to woo Other Backward Classes (OBC), who account for about 45 per cent of the state’s population, in run-up to the polls, which is scheduled later this year.
The Congress general secretary also promised 10 lakh houses for the poor if the party retains power.
She also hit at the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying they have no concern for the poor, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi only makes hollow promises.
“What happened to Modi’s guarantee of depositing Rs 15 lakh into bank accounts of every citizen and of generating crores of jobs? Whenever a question is asked, Modi ji gives a new guarantee. His guarantees are hollow guarantees,” she said.
Farmers in the country are earning just Rs 27 per day, while Adani and other industrialists are making Rs 1,600 crore per day, she said.
“They (BJP) just want the country’s assets to be handed over to their industrialists friends and then divert them (assets/money) through them to the party. And then they keep on spending (money) in elections. Their only aim is to remain in power, not the welfare of people,” Gandhi alleged.
Gandhi claimed the PM had procured two aircraft cost Rs 8,000 crore each, and had spent Rs 20,000 core on the new Parliament building as well as Rs 27,000 crore for the Yashobhoomi (international convention) complex.
“But when you talk about the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), he says there is no money. There is money for industrialist friends but not for you (citizens). Do you want such a CM (in the state) who takes your assets and gives you nothing? The BJP government is for the rich and is not concerned about the poor and middle class,” she told the gathering.
The Congress leader also said that the previous BJP government by Raman Singh was a regime of violence, and the Congress pulled the Naxalite-affected state out of the clutches of violence.
She said the Baghel government has worked for the welfare of the poor, backwards, tribals and women, adding it was the Congress which brought in 33 per cent reservation for women in panchayat bodies as well as MNREGA.