Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday admitted that not to do caste census during the UPA government was a mistake and now he is firm to improve it.
Speaking at the OBC’s ‘Participation Justice Conference’ at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, he said that he failed to understand the issues of the first other backward classes (OBC) community, unlike Dalits, tribals and women, where he claimed that the Congress had done commendable work.
He said, “I think about my work, where good and where we are weak, then I see two-three things. Land Acquisition Bill, MNREGA, Right to Food, Tribal Bill and Rules Conflict, I did a good job in all these matters. As far as the issues of tribals, Dalits and women, I got good marks there, I have done good marks there.”
He said, “There was a shortage in the Congress party and my work, I did not protect the OBC community as I should have done. The reason is that I could not understand the OBC issues deeply at that time. Ten-fifteen years ago, I understood the difficulties of Dalits. Their issues are visible, they can be easily understood, but the problems of OBCs are hidden.”
He further said, “If I had known about your issues and problems at that time, I would have done a caste -based census at the same time. It was my fault that I am going to improve.”
He further said that in a way, it is good that it happened, because if I had done a caste -based census at that time, there would not have been a situation like today.
He said that Dalits, backward classes, tribal and minority forms 90 percent of the country’s population, yet they are excluded from major decision -making processes including the Union Budget.
He said, “The population of Dalits, backward, tribals and minorities in the country is about 90 percent. But when the pudding was being distributed after the budget was being distributed, none of this 90 percent of the population was present. The country had 90 percent of the country’s population productive power. You are making pudding, but they are not saying that they are not saying that they should not be found.”
He also said that he is fully committed to conducting caste-based census and will not back down. He insisted that this is just the first step. Their big goal is to ensure that the work of the people in the country will be respected and equal participation.
He said, “You should ask my sister Priyanka that if Rahul has made up his mind for some work, will he leave her? I will not leave her. Caste -based census is just the first step; My goal is to ensure that your work will be respected and participated in India.”