Ahmedabad: In the continuing tone of the last two years that now marks the decisive shift of Congress as practically a Mandalite outfit, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday led the AICC session in striking a strong pitch for a nationwide caste census and a central law on the SC/ST sub-plan, besides seeking OBC/SC/ST reservation in private sector educational institutions and removal of the 50% ceiling on caste quotas, report Subodh Ghildiyal & Meghdoot Sharon.
The demand for quotas in private educational bodies, as laid down by the All India Congress Committee resolution, is in line with Article 15(5), which was brought by the Congress-led UPA govt with Arjun Singh as HRD minister. The “sub-plan” concept allocates dedicated budget for SC/ST welfare in proportion to their population, and Congress accused the BJP govt of weakening the provision that was instituted by Congress.”Our resolve for the welfare of SC, ST, OBCs remains resolute — yesterday, today and tomorrow,” the resolution stated.
With the shift to Mandalite-Bahujan ideology effected by his personal efforts, Rahul was emphatic on “social justice” issues in his address to the AICC session, talking about his favourite points with the OBC headcount at the forefront.
Rahul Gandhi repeated that it is an X-ray of society to unearth the participation of the deprived classes in the corporate management as also in other sectors of society. Spotlighting caste census done by Telangana as a “revolutionary step”, the revelations of which would be true for other states too, he said the state has found that SC/ST/OBCs/minorities comprise 90% of the state’s population but have no person in the corporate ownership and top management. In contrast, he said gig workers are mostly from these sections.
“PM Modi talks about Dalits, tribals and OBCs the whole day but when it comes to giving them participation, BJP shuts up,” he said, adding, “Modi and RSS have clearly said they will not do a caste census as they don’t want to understand the participation (of various castes in sectors).”
Rahul also slammed BJP over “Adani-Ambani” and monopolies which don’t have deprived classes in their top managements, while PSUs which are being sold have job quotas.
The AICC resolution, which was presented by Sachin Pilot and seconded by Shashi Tharoor, termed Modi govt’s foreign policy as “weak-kneed leadership and helpless submission” at the altar of “individual branding”. It said the govt has been silent in the face of “large-scale humanitarian tragedy, kidnappings and consequent bombings & thousands of deaths in Gaza in the Palestine-Israel conflict”, and sought the creation of Palestine state.
The resolution also blamed BJP for instigating the horrific violence in Manipur, calling it a “constitutional assault.
Rahul attacked the PM for meeting Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus as the resolution expressed concern over return of radical elements in that country and threat to minorities like Hindus. The AICC asked the Centre for constructive negotiations with the US on tariffs by placing national interests first.