Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday admitted that not making a caste census during the UPA government was a mistake, and said that he is now firm to correct it.
Speaking at the OBC’s ‘Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan’ at the Tocora Stadium in Delhi, he said that he failed to understand the issues of other backward classes (OBC) community, which first of the Dalits, tribals and women, where he claimed that the Congress had done commendable work.
“I think of my work, where I did well and where I got smaller, and I see two to three things. Land acquisition bills, menarga, right to food, tribal bills, and Niyamgiri conflicts – I did all these things. As far as the issues of tribals, Dalits and women, I should get a good mark.
“A shortage remained in the Congress party and my work, I did not protect the OBC community, the way I should have been with me. The reason is that I did not understand the OBC issues at that time. Ten to fifteen years ago, I understood the difficulties faced by Dalits at that time. They have understood easily, but I know about my issues that I am going to know about my issues. From, it is good that this happened, because if I had operated a caste-based census, it would not have happened today as it is today.
He said that Dalits, back classes, tribal and minority form 90 percent of the country’s population, yet are excluded from the procedures of making major decisions including the Union Budget.
“In the country, the population of Dalits, behind classrooms, tribals and minorities forms about 90 percent simultaneously. But when the pudding was being distributed after the budget was being distributed, none of this 90 percent population was. The country’s 90 percent of the population is a productive force.” He said.
He also said that he is fully committed to a caste-based census and will not back down, emphasizing that this is only the first step. Their big goal is to ensure that the work of the people gets respect and equal participation in the country.
He said, “You should ask my sister Priyanka whether Rahul has made up his mind for some work, will he let that matter go or not? I am not going. I am not going to go. Caste-based census is just the first step; My goal is to ensure to ensure that your work is respect and participation in India,” he said. (AI)
