Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress, pointed out that individuals from the weaker sections were not receiving their fair share of the nation’s assets and institutions on Monday during a press conference by asking journalists to raise their hands if they were Dalits or OBCs.
After the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Mr. Gandhi spoke to the media, claiming that the CWC had unanimously adopted the “historic decision” to embrace the notion of a national caste census, calling it a “powerful step” for the emancipation of the poor.
In response to a query, Mr. Gandhi stated that the Congress was interested in learning what proportion of the nation’s institutions and assets Dalits, tribal people, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) make up.
“I will ask you how many Dalits are there in this room; look at this; how many OBCs are there in the room; raise their hands and see…there’s a cameraman; I am not talking about you; I am talking about you (gesturing towards journalists),” the former leader of the Congress stated.
“This is the question: how many Dalits, tribals, and OBCs are there in institutions, what is their wealth, their share of assets, and their population?” he stated.
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He also criticized the BJP for criticizing the Congress over its call for a caste census, saying, “We are asking how many poor people there are in the country. Thus, this BJP criticism is really an effort at diversion. Along with the chief ministers of the party’s four state governments, Mr. Gandhi stated that the CWC’s decision to approve a caste census is a “very progressive” and “powerful” move for the emancipation of the poor.
