A day after conceding that the Congress “fell short” of understanding issues faced by OBCs, which “opened up the space” for the BJP, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that he didn’t protect the community’s interests earlier as the issues they faced were “complex” and not “easily visible”. Henceforth, he said, he would work at “double speed” for the community.
During his speech, Gandhi also highlighted the party’s “achievements” in Telangana where its government conducted a “comprehensive” caste survey. The Congress would conduct such surveys wherever it is elected, and once that happens, the “wall” of 50 per cent cap for reservation would be broken, he said.
Gandhi made these remarks at the “Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan” of Congress OBC leaders and workers at Talkatora Stadium, as part of a larger initiative launched by the Congress in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls last year to reach out to the community.
Gandhi also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that after meeting him a few times, he realised Modi was all about “show” with no “substance”. He also targeted the RSS, describing it as the community’s “biggest enemy” and accusing it of having “wiped out” the history of OBCs.
According to Gandhi, while he scored well on issues related to Dalits, tribals, minorities and women, he has not done enough for the OBC community.
“When I look back, and in a way, analyse myself. Where I did the right thing, and where I lacked. I see a couple of big issues. I worked on the Land Acquisition Bill, MGNREGA, right to food, Tribal Bill… These things I did well. I feel I should get good marks on issues of Tribals, Dalits, minorities, women… When I look back, I see things clearly. I lacked on one thing, made a mistake — what was it. The Congress and I made a mistake. I should have protected the OBC section, I didn’t. The reason for this was that I didn’t understand your issues at the time,” he said.
He said that around a decade ago, he “could see the problems faced by Dalits”. “It was clear and I understood it…Untouchability is their history,” he said. On tribals, he said: “It is easy to understand issues of tribals — jungle (forest), jal (water), zameen (land) are right there for you to see.”
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On OBCs, Gandhi said: “But the OBC issues are hidden, and not easy to see. My regret is that if I knew your history and issues, I would have got the caste census done then. And it is my mistake and not the Congress’s. The good thing is that if I had got the caste census done then, it wouldn’t have been as good as it will be now.”
The Congress leader went on to describe his party’s caste survey in Telangana as a “tsunami”.
“In Telangana, it is black and white that laborious work is done by Dalit, OBC, Adivasi communities. (Bhupesh) Baghel ji (former Chhattisgarh CM) said something very correct — ‘utpadak shakti’ (productive force). Meaning, who runs the country… It is the productive force which runs it. But the main question is that this force gives the country so much… Then, what does the country give it? You make the country, build roads and schools, temples… If you build the country, what does it give you? It is giving your private schools where you have to pay lakhs in fees… Your reservation is robbed,” said Gandhi.
“My target is to get the productive force of the country respect and share,” the MP said.
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Gandhi then asked the crowd what the “biggest problem” in politics was, prompting some to shout the name of Modi. “No, Narendra Modi is not a big problem… I had not met him earlier, but now I have met him two-three times, there is nothing in him… It is all show and no substance. I am saying the biggest problem in politics is a person who doesn’t understand their own power. My biggest complaint from OBC youth is that they don’t understand their power… The day you understand it, it will all topple,” said Gandhi.
