PM Modi rattled by Congress manifesto; caste census my life’s mission: Rahul

Amid the row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that the Congress would redistribute people’s properties if voted to power, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that Modi has been “rattled” by his party’s poll manifesto.

“He is scared,” Rahul said while addressing the Social Justice Convention of Samruddh Bharat Foundation that was attended by representatives of 102 SC, ST and OBC organisations from across the country.

‘Only asked for X-ray of society’

Seeking to address the controversy about the Congress’ alleged intention to redistribute money if it comes to power, Rahul said he only said that a caste census should be done to determine the condition of 90 per cent of India’s population.

“All I said was that an X-ray of our society needs to be done to ascertain the condition of 90 per cent of India’s population. Any patriot would welcome this because what I am proposing is meant to strengthen the country. Ironically, those who call themselves patriots, like Narendra Modi, opposed the X-ray,” he said.

Rahul sought to know why the prime minister has been calling himself casteless while for the past few years he identified as an OBC.

“For all these years, Modi called himself an OBC. But the moment I talked about caste census, Modi said he has no caste. If Modi has no caste, then how is he an OBC?” he said.

“Modi says there are only two castes – Rich and Poor. So I ask, how many rich individuals are there among Dalit, Adivasi, or OBC?” he added.

Ensuring caste census my life’s mission: Rahul

Rahul said to correct income inequality, it is important to give ₹16 lakh crore in loans and tax waivers to the poor.

“Ensuring caste census is my life’s mission. Politics may have compromises, but a life mission can never have a compromise. Our manifesto gives a political direction for the X-ray. For correcting income inequality, we have calculated and proposed that a fraction of the money that Modi has given to the rich – ₹16 lakh crore in loans and tax write-offs – should be given to the poor. I have not said give all the money, but at least give a fraction of the money to them,” he continued.

Attacking the BJP, he said, “BJP’s mission is to erase the history of the backwards and the poor. They want to cut you off from your past. There were people like Phule and Ambedkar who gave their whole life for a cause, but no one remembers them. Their history is being erased. You – Dalit, backwards, tribals, minorities – had a central role in the freedom struggle, but you find no mention. We have to revive your history.”

He warned the BJP that if it tried to stall the caste census, the same would come back with greater force.

Rahul promised that the caste census would be the first thing the Congress would take when it came to power.

Accusing the BJP of diverting people’s attention from real issues, Rahul said the OBCs, Dalits and tribals have no started asking pertinent questions to the government.

“The problem with such a tactic is that diversion does not last very long. Today the OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis, are asking – the Ram Mandir has been built, but we didn’t see any OBC there. The new Parliament was inaugurated, but we didn’t see any of us there. The country’s President is a tribal, but she isn’t invited to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir or the new Parliament,” he said.

Survey of institutional representation

Rahul asserted that aside from a survey of castes, the Congress would also carry out a survey of institutional representation – how many SC, ST, OBC are in colleges, media, and judiciary. He said that after 70 years of Independence, this was essential and no one should have an objection to it.

The representatives of the 102 SC, ST, and OBC organisations that were present at the convention pledged to support INDIA bloc candidates in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.