Union Minister Kiren Rijiju emphatically refuted the contentions put forth by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, asserting that the Women’s Reservation Bill does not require a quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC). Rijiju, in a statement, urged Rahul Gandhi to engage with the verifiable facts at hand.
In a direct address to Rahul Gandhi, Minister Rijiju stated, “I earnestly hope that Rahul Gandhi can comprehend this elucidation. The Congress Party, led by Rahul Gandhi, has raised objections concerning the representation of OBCs in the Indian Parliament. It is pivotal to contemplate the historical context. In 1992, the cohort of civil servants presently serving within the Government of India commenced their tenure. For the majority of this era, the Congress Party held sway. One must question why OBC representation was not given due consideration during this tenure.”
Minister Rijiju underscored that official records do not encompass information regarding anyone’s OBC status. He urged for substantial evidence, particularly considering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s OBC background. In his message, Rijiju emphasized, “A review of Congress’s track record reveals much. India witnessed an OBC Prime Minister, overseeing a government with a groundbreaking 35 percent OBC representation among ministers. In stark contrast, the Congress Party has never had an OBC prime minister in its history and has actively opposed OBC leaders such as Charan Singh and Deve Gowda. Rajiv Gandhi, for instance, opposed the Mandal Commission, underscoring the chasm between rhetoric and action. Given that actions carry more weight than mere words in the realm of Indian politics, Rahul Gandhi’s queries should compel the Congress Party to ponder over its historical role and actual contribution to OBC empowerment.”
Rahul Gandhi had expressed his support for the Women’s Reservation Bill, but contended that it remains “incomplete” without provisions for OBC reservations. He stated in the Lok Sabha, “Whenever the opposition raises concerns about conducting a caste census and scrutinizing Adani’s dealings, the BJP endeavors to divert attention elsewhere, away from the OBC community and the Indian populace at large. In my comprehensive research for this speech, I scrutinized various institutions that determine the course of our nation’s progress. These institutions encompass the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, the bureaucracy, and the media. I did so with an intent to assess the level of OBC participation in these establishments.”
By ANI
