Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the Congress Working Committee that met in the capital today has unanimously decided to support the demand for a nationwide caste census. Terming it a “historic decision”, Rahul said that a caste census was a very progressive and powerful step towards the emancipation of the poor people in the country.
“The Congress has decided to whole-heartedly support the idea of a nationwide caste census and force the BJP to carry out the caste census or get out of the way so that we can do it. Most parties in the INDIA alliance are unanimous that the caste census should be implemented. There might be a few who may have a slightly different position and that’s fine. But we are confident that the vast majority of the INDIA alliance is going to support and push the idea of the caste census,” Rahul said addressing the media after the CWC meeting
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Rahul said that chief ministers of Congress-ruled states were also of the view that a caste census was an important step for them to take and suggested that more states could follow suit. Notably, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has already announced a caste census on the lines of the one concluded in Bihar recently. The Chhattisgarh government has also promised it if the Congress retains power in the state.
The Bihar caste census report, released by the state government on October 2, showed Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) together constituting over 63 per cent of the state’s population.
Rahul also rejected the idea that the issue would not create a further divide in society on the lines of caste, stating that the matter was linked to the poor and not caste or religion. “This is not a matter of caste or religion. It is about the poor… for the OBCs, Dalits, tribals… for India’s poor. Two Indias are being created today… one that is for Adani and the other for everyone else. The caste census will reveal everything.. who are how many in India,” Rahul said, adding that the next step after the caste census will be an economic survey to determine who holds the nation’s wealth and assets.
Rahul further said that the Congress is of the view that a caste census is necessary for the future of India. “A new paradigm of development will open after a new caste census. Congress will take this job to its conclusion. And we don’t break our promises. I admit and concede that we are at fault too… We will finish what we could not do earlier. Caste census is needed if we want a new development paradigm that ensures justice for all,” he said.
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Rahul also rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s argument that the Congress’ idea of “Jitni Abaadi Utna Haq” would deprive South India of 100 Lok Sabha seats if the same logic were to be applied to the delimitation exercise. “What does the caste census have to do with representation of the South? It is very difficult to understand. The problem is that the Prime Minister is incapable of doing the caste census. There are four chief ministers of the Congress. Of them, three are OBCs. BJP has 10 CMs, but only one of them is an OBC. The PM talks a lot about OBCs. But what has he done for them?”
When asked why the Karnataka government was yet to release the data for the caste-based socio-economic survey conducted in the state years ago, Rahul said that the data would be released soon. “We are in discussions. We are very clear on the direction is. Those actions will be taken,” he added.
In a significant shift from its historic stand, the Congress made a strong pitch for the inclusion of OBCs within the ambit of reservation for women in Parliament and state Assemblies. Taking a cue from Nitish, the Congress made a strong pitch for a caste survey at the central level and also appears to have decided to make it into its biggest poll plank heading into the Assembly elections in five states as well as the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
The CWC convened in Delhi on Monday, October 9, with president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states, and the party’s top brass attending the lengthy discussions on election preparations and narratives across the poll-bound states. Extensive discussions also took place regarding the party’s firm stance on conducting a nationwide caste census and its implications.