RAIPUR – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a spirited address on October 3, countered the Congress party’s proposition that community rights should be proportionate to their demographic representation within society. He emphasized that the underprivileged should be accorded the foremost rights to the nation’s resources, given their substantial presence in the population.
This statement came during his public address in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, following the release of Bihar’s caste survey results, which highlighted that over 63% of Bihar’s population belongs to the other backward classes (OBCs) and extremely backward classes (EBCs). The Congress party has praised these findings and asserted the need for a nationwide caste-based census to ensure equitable representation.
Prime Minister Modi responded, stating, “Since yesterday, Congress has started singing a new tune. Congress leaders say more the population, greater the rights. I say that the largest population in this country is that of the poor. Therefore, for me, the poor are the biggest [chunk of the] population, and the welfare of the poor is my aim.”
He raised a pertinent question concerning the implication of the Congress’s emphasis on population share, questioning whether the party intended for the majority Hindu population to overshadow the rights of minority communities.
Mr. Modi further remarked, “I was wondering, what would former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh be thinking? He used to say that the minorities, and that too Muslims, have the first right on the country’s resources. Now Congress is saying that the population will decide who should have the first right. Now does Congress want to reduce the rights of minorities?”
He asserted that if rights were to be determined based on population share, the Congress party should clarify whose population would take precedence. He implied that such a shift could potentially lead to a diminishment of minority rights.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of attempting to divide India by separating the Hindu community and charged that the party was under external influence. He cautioned the public to remain vigilant.
In a play on words, Mr. Modi accused the Congress of converting “loktantra” (democracy) into “lootantra” (corruption) and “prajatantra” (democracy) into “parivartantra” (dynasty).
The demand for a caste census has gained momentum, with the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies advocating for its implementation. Prime Minister Modi has previously criticized the opposition for propagating caste-based divisions in society. However, he had acknowledged his own caste identity in a speech in Chhattisgarh in September and highlighted the marginalization of various caste groups across the country.
