Attending the ‘Samvidhan Samman Sammelan’ in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where thousands of people from across the country converged, the LoP Rahul Gandhi repeated his demand for a caste-based census, stating that 90 percent of the country’s population is outside the system. He went on to add that this huge section has the capabilities and knowledge but is denied entry to the higher institutions of power, and that is why the institutional caste-based census is highly essential.
“BJP leaders are saying that an OBC section will be given after caste census.We want the list of different communities. For us caste census is not just a census, it is a foundation for policy making,” ANI quoted Gandhi as saying.
As he said, it is imperative to not only conduct the census but to understand the enumeration of wealth and representation of OBCs, Dalits, and workers in Bureaucracy, Judiciary, Media and other vital sectors.
Gandhi explained, “The aim of the caste census is not to just know about the count of various castes but their participation in the country’s wealth as well. The vision to know how the wealth is getting distributed in the country among different castes.”.
He added, reflecting on his political journey, “I have been in politics since 2004 and the BJP has been like a guru for me because it has taught me what not to do.
As Opposed To This, Only The Congress Party Has Remained Consistent On The Issue In Its Demands For A Caste Census And Promised It In Its Lok Sabha Election Manifesto Also Which Enumerated A Commitment For Conducting A Nationwide Socio-Economic And Caste Census And At The Same Time, Proposing A Constitutional Amendment that Would Extend Reservation Cap For The SC, ST, And OBC Communities Beyond 50 Per Cent.