Rahul Gandhi said the caste census will unveil the true demographics and socio-economic status of marginalised communities.
A caste census and a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price for crops would be among the first decisions of the Congress government if it came to power, Rahul Gandhi promised on Wednesday. Accusing the BJP-led Union government of neglecting the farmers in favour of big industrialists, Gandhi reiterated his commitment to addressing the needs of the agricultural community.
Speaking at a public gathering in Badnawar town in the tribal-dominated Dhar district as part of the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi emphasised the significance of a caste census, likening it to revolutionary movements such as the green and white revolutions.
“Caste census is a revolutionary step. The moment we come to power at the Centre, we will conduct this exercise. The second thing we will do is to provide a legal guarantee for providing MSP to farmers,” Gandhi said on the last day of his Yatra in MP.
Gandhi said that the caste census will unveil the true demographics and socio-economic status of marginalised communities. “This census will not only provide insight into the population distribution of SC, ST, and backward classes but also shed light on their representation across various sectors and institutions,” he elaborated.
Highlighting the stark disparities in economic representation, Gandhi lamented the absence of OBC, Dalit, and tribal communities in influential spheres such as corporate leadership, media, and government bureaucracy. He cited alarming statistics indicating a severe underrepresentation of these communities at the upper echelons of power, asserting that their voices deserve greater recognition and inclusion.
He claimed that 73 per cent of the country”s population has no presence in most sectors of the economy as well as in the top levels of bureaucracy.
None of the people from OBC, Dalit, and tribal communities are found among the owners of big companies, their senior managements, media firms, influential journalists and social media influencers, Gandhi claimed. Of the 90 top IAS officers “who run the government”, only three each are from OBC and Dalit communities, and “they are made to sit in the corner when the budget is decided,” a claim refuted by the Centre.
Gandhi reiterated the Congress party”s unwavering commitment to addressing social and economic disparities, particularly emphasising justice for farmers. He said that the primary demand of protesting farmers from Haryana and Punjab is the assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.
“But the BJP government is saying they will not give the MSP. It (the government) has waived Rs 16 lakh crore owed by 100 industrialists, which amounts to the MNREGA budget of 24 years. But they don’t want to waive farmers’ loans,” he alleged.
Upon assuming power, Gandhi assured, the Congress party would enact legislation to ensure that farmers receive a fair and predetermined minimum amount for their produce.
“Farmers deserve fair compensation for their labour and produce,” Gandhi stressed. He criticised the government for manipulating import-export policies to artificially deflate agricultural prices, leaving farmers vulnerable to market fluctuations.
Gandhi also highlighted the alarming wealth disparity in the country, where 22 individuals possess wealth equivalent to half the population, and five percent of the affluent control 60 percent of the nation”s wealth. He cited a concerning rise in unemployment, reaching its highest levels in four decades, surpassing even the rates in neighboring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is slated to advance towards Rajasthan from MP in the evening, continuing its journey to advocate for justice and fairness for all sections of society.
