Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the Prime Minister does not work for the OBCs but distracts them from the main issues. He said that the Prime Minister is incapable of doing the caste census. "The PM is incapable of doing the caste census. Our 3 out of 4 CMs are from the OBC category. Out of 10 BJP CMs, only one is from the OBC category. How many BJP CMs are from the OBC category? The PM doesn't work for the OBCs but distracts them from the main issues," as quoted by the news agency ANI.
Gandhi's remarks came after the Congress at the Congress Working Committee meeting passed a resolution to demand for Caste Census throughout the country.
Speaking at a press conference after the CWC meeting, the former Congress chief said the grand old party will pressurise the BJP to conduct a caste census because the country wants it. "We will pressurise the BJP to conduct a caste census because the country wants it. As far as INDIA alliance is concerned, I think most of the parties will support it. There might be just a few parties who might not support it but we don't have any problem," Gandhi said.
During the press conference, Gandhi said that the Congress CMs have decided to conduct caste census in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka. "We held a discussion on caste census and a historic decision has been taken by CWC with unanimous support. Our CMs have decided to conduct caste census in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka," Rahul Gandhi said.
Caste Census Is For The Poor, Says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi said that the caste census is for the poor, and it is not about caste or religion, it is about poverty. "This is not about caste or religion, it is about poverty. Caste census is for the poor. Today, we have two Indias. We will not stop at caste census. There will be an economic survey after that," the Wayanad MP said.
Apart from the caste census, the CWC resolution condoled the deaths in Sikkim-North Bengal flash floods and also stated that it will "stand by the Palestinian struggle for self-rule and believe that negotiations must be conducted to find resolution to this crisis."
PM's Baseless Attacks On Congress Will Only Increase In Coming Days: Kharge At CWC Meet
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday that PM Modi's "baseless attacks filled with lies and falsehoods" on the Congress party will only increase in the coming days. Addressing party leaders at the CWC meet, the Congress chief said that the prime minister's absence in Manipur stands in sharp contrast to his frequent visits to the election-going states.
"The prime minister's absence in Manipur stands in sharp contrast to his frequent visits to the election going states. His baseless attacks filled with lies and falsehoods on the Congress party will only increase in coming days. It is essential that we counter these falsehoods and create our own counter narrative," he stressed, as quoted by PTI. Kharge has asked party workers to work in coordination, discipline and unity and put in all might to win the elections in five poll-bound states.
During his address, he once again raised the demand for conducting a nationwide caste census to ensure social justice and rights to the SCs, STs and OBCs in accordance with their population, while noting that the BJP is silent on this. For proper share in welfare schemes, it is important to have socio-economic data on the condition of weaker sections of society and ensure social justice to them, he asserted.
The Congress president also said the party would implement women's reservation if voted to power in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Kharge also highlighted the need for an effective strategy for upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, MP, Telangana and Mizoram. "As we approach the upcoming assembly elections and general elections, it is important that the party works with meticulous coordination and complete discipline and unity," he said at the meeting, as quoted by PTI.
The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for conducting assembly polls in five states. Five state assemblies of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on different days beginning November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.
This is the second meeting of the highest decision making busy of the Congress after it was reconstituted under Kharge in August. The first meeting was held in Hyderabad last month.