In a significant announcement, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, revealed on October 9 that the Congress Working Committee has made a resolute commitment to conduct a caste census in several states. He made it clear that this endeavor is not rooted in considerations of caste or religion; instead, its primary aim is to alleviate the economic hardships faced by disadvantaged segments of the population.
Addressing a press conference, Rahul Gandhi stated, “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.”
Gandhi underscored the fact that the Congress party currently boasts four Chief Ministers, with three of them hailing from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. In stark contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds the reins in ten states, yet only one among their Chief Ministers represents the OBC community, according to Gandhi.
Additionally, he emphasized the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi making public declarations of initiatives aimed at uplifting the OBC community.
The move towards a caste census is seen as a significant step towards promoting social justice and addressing the needs of marginalized sections of society. The Congress party’s commitment to this endeavor signals a political willingness to tackle socio-economic disparities.