Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised a nationwide caste census and removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation if the INDIA bloc wins the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a public rally during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Jharkhand’s Ranchi, Gandhi claimed that Dalits, tribals, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) were made “bonded labourers” and that their participation was lacking in big companies, hospitals, schools, colleges and courts.
“This is the biggest question before India. Our first step would be to get a caste census in the country,” the former Congress chief said.
Noting that more than 50 per cent reservation cannot be given under existing norms, Gandhi promised that an INDIA government will remove the cap on reservation.
“If INDIA bloc comes to power, it will throw away the 50 per cent cap on reservation, ensure Dalits, tribals, OBCs get their rights,” Gandhi said.
He added: “There will be no reduction in reservation of Dalits and Adivasis. I am giving you a guarantee that the backward sections of society will get their rights. This is the biggest issue – social and economic injustice”
Further, the former Congress chief also trained guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he is opposed to the idea of a caste census.
He said that Modi used to say that he is an OBC but when the demand for a caste census was made, he stated that there are only two castes – the rich and the poor.