Rahul Reiterates Caste Survey Promise, Kharge Talks Of NYAY Scheme If INDIA Wins LS Polls

NAGPUR, Dec 28: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday stated the OBCs, Dalits and tribals should not have sufficient illustration in lots of sectors and reiterated {that a} caste census will likely be carried out if the Opposition’s INDIA alliance got here to energy, whereas occasion chief Mallikarjun Kharge promised implementation of the NYAY scheme to empower ladies and the poor.
The 2 leaders had been talking on the Congress’s 139th basis day rally — titled `Hain Taiyyar Hum’ (we’re prepared) — in Nagpur metropolis which homes the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and sounded the bugle for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Nagpur has two ideologies, one in all Dr B R Ambedkar which is progressive and the opposite of the RSS which is ”destroying the nation”, Kharge stated. Notably, town can also be dwelling to the Deekshabhoomi the place Ambedkar transformed to Buddhism alongside along with his followers.
Senior occasion chief Sonia Gandhi and basic secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra didn’t attend the rally.
Gandhi attacked the BJP and RSS, accusing them of taking the nation again to the pre-independence period of slavery, and stated the BJPs ideology is the ideology of ”Raja-Maharajas” (kings) who don’t hearken to anybody and the place an order comes from the highest and everyone has to comply with it.
Citing a dialog with a BJP MP who was earlier with the Congress, he claimed that the BJP treats its staff and leaders like slaves and the voice of the decrease rungs is just not heard. That was what occurred with (current Maharashtra Congress chief) Nana Patole who left the saffron occasion after questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi on farmers’ points, he added.
Within the Congress, considerations of the employees are listened to by the higher-ups together with him, Gandhi stated.
Slamming the BJP for questioning the Congress’s contribution, Gandhi stated earlier than independence the princely states had been ”in partnership with the British,” whereas it was the Structure formed by Mahatma Gandhi, Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru which protected the individuals’s rights and gave each citizen the best to vote.
”The individuals within the RSS and BJP had been towards this….for years they by no means saluted the nationwide flag,” he alleged.
The individuals of India together with ladies had no rights earlier than independence and Dalits had been subjected to untouchability, Gandhi stated, alleging that ”this was the ideology of the RSS which Congress modified, and these individuals wish to carry again the pre-independence period scenario once more.” ”The muse of the battle for political energy is ideology and the Congress’s goal is handy over energy to the frequent man,” he stated.
The BJP authorities has pushed a lot of individuals again into poverty, he claimed.
”We don’t need two Indias. Solely the INDIA alliance can present employment to the youth,” Gandhi stated.
He reiterated that after coming to energy on the Centre, the INDIA alliance’s authorities will conduct a caste survey.
”What number of youth have been given employment within the final ten years by the Modi authorities? Unemployment is at an all-time excessive now,” the Congress chief stated.
OBCs, Dalits and tribals should not have illustration in commensurate with their inhabitants in lots of sectors, Gandhi claimed.
”Earlier, prime minister Modi would describe himself as an OBC. However after my demand (of caste census), he says there is just one caste, the poor. If there is just one caste, why do you say you might be an OBC,” the Congress chief requested.
The Inexperienced Revolution, White Revolution and Data Know-how revolution had been ushered in by farmers, ladies and the youth, respectively, whereas the Congress governments laid down the imaginative and prescient for these revolutions, Gandhi stated.
He additionally accused the BJP of capturing all democratic establishments.
Talking in Marathi, Kharge stated Nagpur is the land of revolutionaries the place Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi as soon as labored.
”If the BJP and RSS got here to energy once more, democracy will likely be completed. There are two ideologies in Nagpur, one is the progressive one which belongs to Ambedkar, and different is that of the RSS which is destroying the nation,” the veteran chief stated.
Prime minister Modi was towards social justice and equality, Kharge alleged.
”Democracy is beneath menace. Inflation has skyrocketed, unemployment can also be excessive. There are 30 lakh vacancies which aren’t being crammed up as a result of Backward Lessons must be accomodated,” he stated.
The poor have gotten extra poor whereas the wealthy have gotten richer beneath the Modi authorities, Kharge stated.
”If the INDIA alliance is voted to energy, the NYAY scheme will likely be applied for the empowerment of the poor together with ladies,” he stated, referring to the scheme promised by the Congress earlier than the 2019 elections the place the poor households had been to get Rs 6000 per 30 days.
Modi doesn’t go to Manipur the place atrocities happened on ladies however he goes to Surat to inaugurate a diamond bourse, the Congress president stated.
He additionally alleged that the prime minister doesn’t respect Parliament as he doesn’t attend its proceedings. ”To guard one BJP MP who signed the paperwork to permit the intruders who jumped into the Lok Sabha properly, 146 MPs (of the Opposition) have been suspended,” Kharge stated, referring to the safety breach at Parliament earlier this month and its aftermath.
The BJP was making an attempt to divide the INDIA grouping ”as a result of if we unite, the BJP will likely be nowhere,” he stated. The BJP authorities didn’t fulfil its guarantees of making two crore jobs yearly and giving Rs 15 lakh to every citizen, Kharge stated.
”Assist the INDIA alliance to save lots of democracy and the nation. Now, leaving apart all essential points dealing with the nation, the BJP will spotlight God,” he stated referring to the Ram temple inauguration at Ayodhya scheduled for the following month.
The victories of the Congress in Karnataka and Telangana meeting elections had been morale-boosters and there was no must get disheartened by the current defeats in different states, he stated. (Businesses)