Caste census aims to give 90% people rightful due: Rahul Gandhi

A statement issued said that Gandhi pointed out that a caste census aims at providing “rightful due” to nearly 90% of the country’s population. He said if this much of the population does not get its due, the Constitution could not be preserved or protected.

The Congress MP claimed that even 70 years since the adoption of the Constitution, 90% of country’s population remains “marginalised, with little to no representation in the corporate world, media and even in the judiciary.”

Gandhi emphasised that such a census would form a key policy framework for the Congress. His other aims include socio-economic and institutional survey in the country, Gandhi said.

Gandhi said that his vision was that wealth should be properly distributed among the people and not just among five or 10% people. He stresses the importance of ensuring that Dalits, Backward Classes and Adivasis have equal participation, a voice in the country’s affairs, and control over its resources.

Gandhi said, it was important for the country’s progress that everyone is taken along. Citing the example of cylinders in an engine of a vehicle, he said, “I want all the 10 engines and not just one, to work.” He also reiterated that the 50% bar on reservations was “not acceptable” to him, suggesting that representation and participation should be on basis of the proportion and percentage of the population. He alleged the BJP government was trying to “do away” with reservation by way of lateral entry.