During a press conference held on Monday, Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi made a request to the journalists in attendance. He asked them to indicate if they belonged to the Dalit, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), or tribal communities by raising their hands.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Congress party, it was claimed that no one in the room raised their hand in response to Rahul Gandhi's inquiry. In light of this, the Congress party asserted that this occurrence serves as the "rationale" behind their decision to carry out a caste-based census in states governed by their party.
In the video footage, Rahul Gandhi inquired about the representation of Dalits, OBCs, and tribals among the journalists present. When it appeared that no one raised their hand, the Congress leader commented on the situation, stating, "Look at this."
Reacting to this observation, he explained that this is precisely why the Congress party is demanding to ascertain the number of OBCs, tribals, and Dalits in the various institutions, properties, assets, and the general population of the country. Gandhi emphasized that their queries pertain to these aspects.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi announced the Congress party's decision to conduct a caste-based census in states where the party is in power, namely Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. He described this decision as "historic" and clarified that it is aimed at benefiting economically disadvantaged individuals in the country, emphasizing that it is not influenced by religious or caste considerations.
Recent attention has been drawn to the topic of caste-based census, particularly due to the Bihar government's controversial release of a caste-based survey just months ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The survey revealed that OBCs constitute 63 percent of Bihar's population, while Scheduled Castes (SCs) make up over 19 percent of the state's 13-crore population, and Scheduled Tribes (STs) account for 1.68 percent. Additionally, the upper castes, referred to as 'savarnas,' represent 15.52 percent of the state's population.
During the announcement of Congress's intention to proceed with a caste census, Rahul Gandhi indicated that this decision had received unanimous support from all Chief Ministers of the four states governed by the party.
Â
