Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge declared on Thursday that if the party secures power, it commits to revitalizing the Scheduled Caste Plan and the Tribal Sub-Plan and enacting it into law.
Kharge emphasized this assurance in a post on X, stating, “Congress gives legal guarantee for implementation of SC-ST Sub Plan. As much as the SC/ST population, so much is the budget!” He criticized the Modi government for abolishing these plans, introduced by Indira Gandhi in the 1970s to ensure a fair and sufficient allocation of budgetary resources to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Kharge reiterated Congress’s pledge to revive and enforce these plans, underlining the party’s longstanding advocacy for the rights and privileges of marginalized communities. He emphasized that only Congress could ensure “share justice.”
Furthermore, the Congress President highlighted that over the past seven decades, the Congress Party has been a vocal advocate for the rights and welfare of backward, deprived, oppressed, and exploited sections of society across all castes.
“Only Congress will ensure ‘share justice’,” he affirmed.
Rahul Gandhi also shared his perspective on X, expressing the Congress’s objective to engage tribals in the development of modern India. He stated, “The aim of the Congress is not only to protect water, forests, and land but also to ensure the participation of tribals in the building of modern India.” Gandhi emphasized the importance of safeguarding tribal rights and resources, noting that these six resolutions dedicated to tribal society would serve as a shield to prevent resource exploitation, thereby strengthening the nation’s foundation.
Meanwhile, opposition parties within the INDIA bloc have been advocating for a nationwide caste census under the slogan ‘Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq’ (As much population, so much right). They argue that such a census would facilitate policymaking for various castes and communities based on their population. However, the ruling BJP has opposed this, fearing it could lead to societal division.
With the 2024 general elections scheduled in seven phases from April 19 to June 1 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha, political parties are gearing up for a significant electoral battle. The election results are expected to be announced on June 4.