Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 4 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticized the BJP-led government for its lack of genuine interest in conducting a caste census, despite official announcements to the contrary. Speaking at a workers’ convention in Bhopal, Gandhi stressed that a caste census is essential to ensuring social justice in India.
He drew a parallel between the caste census and the Women’s Reservation Act, alleging both have been delayed and remain unimplemented, reflecting the government’s unwillingness to promote equitable reforms. “The Modi government does not want to bring social justice but wants to promote chosen industrialists,” he asserted.
Gandhi said, “BJP does not want to conduct caste census, because if caste census is conducted then their Adani-Ambani model will end. The country will realize that 90 per cent are not benefiting from this, and the country’s money is only being sent to 5-10 per cent, and people will rise up and stop this on their own. This is the fight.”
He described caste census as the “X-ray of society,” emphasizing the need to diagnose social inequities accurately. “Have you ever gotten a fracture? What does the doctor say? First, let’s see it and do an X-ray. The whole country knows that Dalits, backward classes, and poor general castes are getting hurt. I am just saying to do an X-ray and see the problem. If it is revealed that there is no problem, everything is all right. If the X-ray reveals that the leg is broken, then something will have to be done,” Gandhi explained.
Further, Gandhi endorsed the “Telangana model” of conducting the caste census, contrasting it with the “Bihar model.” He said, “There are two models for caste census — one of Telangana and another is Bihar. In Bihar, they chose the questions behind closed doors, without asking Dalits, tribals, backward classes, general caste, or minorities. In Telangana, we asked lakhs of people — Dalit, Adivasi groups, and politicians. We asked them what questions they would want. 3.5 lakh people were included in our process.”
Gandhi’s remarks underscore his call for a transparent and inclusive caste census that reflects the voices of all communities and addresses social justice effectively. (ANI)
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