Amidst the various caste-related struggles going on in Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has taken a bold stance on Shahu Maharaj’s historic gazette by reiterating Congress’s demand for caste census, lifting the 50 per cent cap on reservation, and ‘nyay’ for marginalised sections.
By invoking both Shahu Maharaj and Dr. B R Ambedkar, Rahul Gandhi has sent a strong message of himself believing and taking forward Maharashtra Dharma which legends such as Shivaji, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule and Dr. Ambedkar set out.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj’s contributions towards social justice were well ahead of his time. A pioneer in the fight for social justice in the country, his lifelong work on social reforms has had a great impact on me.
“Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj made education universal by deciding to publish the ‘Revolutionary Gazette’ on this day in 1902. Also, through this, Shahu Maharaj worked to strengthen the weaker sections of society by giving 50 per cent job reservations,” the Congress leader said.
He said that Shahu Maharaj’s support and efforts influenced Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to include reservations in the Constitution.
“Our demands for a caste census, removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservations, and nyay for the marginalised are inspired by Shahu Maharaj’s revolutionary ideals,” he said.Rahul Gandhi’s statement today shows that Congress as taken a principled stance that will bring a permanent solution to the multiple conflicting demands of various caste groups.
This statement is also a recognition of the fact that Maharashtra, which has not seen a caste census since the 1931 nationwide census, cannot emerge out of this long-standing conflict without a proper caste census that addresses the root of the issue.