Rahul doubts intention of Modi on caste census
Rajgir, June 06 (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed his doubt over the intention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the caste census, saying he would not allow emerge true picture of the prevailing scenario on social dynamics in the country.
Gandhi, while addressing a conference organised on the theme of "save the constitution ", said that Prime Minister Modi was not sincere and his intention was not clear on the caste census, as he had promised to do it in the country.
Initially, he was not at all prepared for the caste census at the national level, but under his continued and sustained pressure in Lok Sabha and the struggle made by Congress on the issue forced him to get prepared for the caste census, he added.
" PM Mod had once said that there was no caste in the country and I had then asked him why he claimed to be coming from the OBC category, if there is no existence of the caste system ", Congress leader said, adding that the BJP had never been sincere and prepared for caste census. The intention of PM Modi on the caste census was still doubtful as it was reflected from the fact that the questionnaire of the caste census exercise was prepared by 11 senior officers in a closed room and no public suggestion was invited by the government on the issue, he pointed out.
Gandhi said that there were two models of caste census in the country-- one by the BJP and the other by Congress. A model of Congress was visible in the caste census, conducted in Telangana, he stated. So far as the question of the BJP was concerned, the caste census was an attempt to suppress the true picture of social dynamics and mislead the people on the issue, while Congress had conducted a fair and transparent caste census in Telangana, he added.
Based on the caste census conducted by the Congress government in Telangana, several decisions were taken, including the hike in reservation limit for Extremely Backward Classes(EBCs), Backward Classes, and others in government services, he further added.
Congress leader said if the BJP did not conduct the caste census properly, then his party would do the job if given an opportunity to serve the people. He would also raise the issue in Lok Sabha if an attempt was made by the Narendra Modi government to mislead the people on the issue of caste census, he added.
Gandhi said that Schedule Castes (SCS), Scheduled Tribes(STs) Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and others who lagged on the path of development, were 90 percent of the population, who could not get proper representation in government services. In the top bureaucracy, only a few of them were in the decision-making process, and they too had been given responsibilities of minor departments, he added.
Congress leader said that in the corporate sector representation of Backward Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was negligible. Top corporate houses were being given relief by the government, in the form of tax rebates, running into lakhs of crores of rupees, he pointed out. On the other hand, those who remained backwards and deprived were forced to live pathetic lives, he lamented.
Gandhi exhorted the people of the Backward Classes and deprived not to get frightened and continue to struggle for their rights. Congress would always remain solidly behind them to give strength and ensure that they could get justice, he promised.
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India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
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an hour ago
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