'Biggest Aspect Of Delivering Justice': Rahul Promises Nationwide Caste Census If Congress Voted To Power

Expressing gratitude to the people of West Bengal, Rahul Gandhi the people of the state are known for being “ideologically oriented” and it was their responsibility to stand against the "hate”.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra', in Katihar, Bihar. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said a countrywide caste census will be conducted if the party is voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, news agency PTI reported. Accusing the BJP and RSS of “propagating hatred and violence”, Gandhi said the only way to deliver justice was a caste census.

Addressing the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in West Bengal’s Malda, Gandhi said, “We want social justice and the biggest aspect of delivering it will be a countrywide caste census. After we come to power at the Centre, we will conduct a caste census across the nation to find out the number of Dalits, tribals and people from other backward communities.”

Taking further potshots at the saffron party, Gandhi said the word ‘nyay’ has been attached with the Congress’s mega outreach campaign because the country is currently “reeling under injustice”.

“The word 'nyay' (justice) has been attached to the yatra because injustice prevails across the country. The BJP government has been meting out injustice to people across the country, be it youth, women or the working class,” PTI quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying.

Expressing gratitude to the people of West Bengal, Gandhi that the people of the state are known for being “ideologically oriented” and it was their responsibility to stand against the “ideology of hate”.

He also targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying the latter was "feeling trapped" after getting a caste survey conducted in the state under the “pressure from the Mahagathbandhan partners”. However, Kumar refuted the claim as “nonsensical”.

“His (Rahul) claim that the caste survey in the state was done under pressure from the Congress is nonsensical. Everybody knows that the initiative was taken by me only. Now, people are taking credit,” PTI quoted Nitish Kumar as saying.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi’s remark came just two days after CM Kumar returned to the BJP-led NDA and retained the chief ministerial post in Bihar.