Nagpur: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during a visit to Nagpur ahead of the Maharashtra State Assembly elections, has declared that a caste census is inevitable and will unveil the systemic injustices faced by Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis.
Speaking at the “Samvidhan Samman Sammelan,” Gandhi asserted, “Caste census will make everything clear. Everyone will come to know how much power they wield and what our role is.” He further highlighted the importance of the census as a tool for development and pledged to break the 50 per cent reservation cap, which he claims currently excludes the majority of marginalised communities.
“We will also break the 50 per cent, reservation cap, wall,” Gandhi said. “We have to tell the country that we are fighting to secure justice for over 90 per cent marginalised people in the country,” he added.
Gandhi emphasised the significance of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, stating that it is not just a document but a way of life. He criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for ‘attacking the Constitution’, calling it an attack on the voice of the nation.
“When the people of RSS and BJP attack this (Constitution), they are not just attacking this book, they are attacking the voice of India,” Gandhi said. “Our institutions are made out of the Constitution. If there is no Constitution, there won’t be an Election Commission, there won’t be democratic institutions.”
“You won’t find a single Dalit, OBC, and Adivasi in Adani company management,” Gandhi pointed out, highlighting the lack of representation of marginalised communities in powerful positions. He also criticised the government’s decision to waive off the debts of large corporations while simultaneously opposing the waiver of farmers’ loans.
“You waive off Rs 16 lakh crore debts of just 25 people, but when I speak of farmers’ loan waiver, I am attacked for changing habits of these people,” he added.
Gandhi’s visit to Nagpur included a visit to Dikshabhoomi, a significant site associated with Lord Buddha and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. He paid homage to both figures.
