New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the idea of a caste census across the nation, former party chief Rahul Gandhi said, claiming the exercise would ensure the poor people get their dues.
“There is a very big decision taken by the Congress Working Committee. Unanimously, the working committee has supported the idea of a caste census in the country,” Gandhi, now a Lok Sabha MP, told the media after the party’s top policy-making body met for over four hours here.
Gandhi iterated that all members supported the idea when the CWC discussed the issue of caste census. “Congress Chief Ministers will also get the caste-based census done in their states,” he added during the press conference, where the party CMS were also present.
The CWC resolution pledged that the Congress would conduct a nationwide Cast Census in the country if it came to power after the Lok Sabha polls next year. The exercise would be undertaken as part of the normal decadal Census which was due in 2021.
“There would be a caste census in the country and the poor of India would get their share. After the caste census, a new path of development will open. The Congress party will leave only after completing this work,” Gandhi said, iterating that the drill was necessary for the country’s future.
Asked whether the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) was on the same page with the Congress on the issue, he said, “Many parties in the INDIA alliance will support caste-based enumeration. Opinion of one or two parties may differ, but most parties will support it.”
Gandhi said Congress was flexible on the issue, and strive to build up a consensus in the alliance.
Attacking the BJP, Gandhi claimed that out of four Congress Chief Ministers, three are OBCs. However, out of 10 BJP Chief Ministers, only one is an OBC.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not work for the OBCs, he just diverts the attention of the OBC category,” he alleged.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution also said it would Implement the 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies at the earliest, ensuring adequate representation for women belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and including OBCs.
The unnecessary obstacles of Census and delimitation imposed by the PM Narendra Modi-led government will be removed, read the resolution.
