Rahul Gandhi announces Congress Working Committee's decision to conduct caste census in 4 ruling states

Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced on October 9 that the party's Working Committee has made a firm commitment to carry out a caste census in states. He also clarified that the initiative is not based on considerations of caste or religion; rather, it is intended to benefit the economically disadvantaged.

"We have decided we will implement caste census and we don't break promises. The step is not about caste and religion. It is being done for poor people," said Rahul Gandhi said in a press conference.

Rahul Gandhi pointed out that Congress currently has four Chief Ministers, with three of them from the OBC community. In stark contrast, the BJP has ten Chief Ministers, yet only one among them represents the OBC community, he said.

Furthermore, he stressed the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly announce initiatives designed to uplift the OBC community.

Rahul Gandhi affirmed that the Congress party is committed to pressuring the BJP into conducting a caste-based census. If the BJP does not oblige, Rahul Gandhi proposed that BJP grant the Congress party the authority to lead in this matter.

"We have four CMs and three are from OBC community, BJP has 10 CMs and only one of them is from OBC. Narendra Modi will have to tell people of the country what has he done for the community. We will force the BJP to carry out caste census and if they don't do it they should leave it to us," Rahul Gandhi said with Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal and Chattisgarh by his side.

Rahul Gandhi stated that most of the alliance partners within INDIA alliance will support the idea of a caste census. He emphasized that the decision to implement a caste census is not a political choice but a step taken to promote social justice.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the caste census come a day after the issuance of an order by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan for the implementation of a caste survey on the lines of survey undertaken by Bihar. In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress has announced that it will conduct a caste survey if it is voted to power again. The Congress has also asserted that in Madhya Pradesh also its main agenda would be holding of a caste census. Congress-ruled Karnataka has already announced the survey and is likely to come out with its results later this year.

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on October 2 revealed in its caste survey findings, saying that OBCs and EBCs constitute 63 percent of the state's total population which stood at a little over 13.07 crore. The findings also said the Extremely Backward Classes (36 percent) were the largest social segment followed by the Other Backward Classes at 27.13 percent.

Earlier today, Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary, tweeted that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a common request made by people belonging to the backward classes from every state was the urgent need for a caste census in the country.