Resuming the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Chhattisgarh after a two-day break, Congress leader Rahul Gandhisaid in Sakti district Sunday that if his party is elected, they will first hold a caste census and then analyse the wealth accrued by the people.
“The GST and demonetisation helped the rich but the poor suffered. Unemployment rate is at a 40-year high,” he said and pointed out that “the Chinese who manufacture the phones and a few rich businessmen who sell them make money while the youths do not get an opportunity to work in these manufacturing factories”.
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“They are destroying all small businesses. Take any industry… you will see there is a monopoly of one particular billionaire. Banks’ doors are shut for small businesses. Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, (Gautam) Adani can take any amount of loan. It’s also ok if they do not repay. But when farmers demand loan waiver they are beaten. This is economic injustice,” he said and questioned the same GST rate for both the rich and poor despite the vast difference in their earnings.
Explaining the objective behind caste census, he said, “The OBCs have the highest population but we do not know their numbers. The top 1% are ruling the country and the rest are getting nothing. First we will do the caste census and then find out who has how much wealth. We will find out the number of Adivasis and how much wealth they own. Then we will find out the number of rich and poor in the country in the general category… It will be clear how much money Adani has and how much a common man has. Narendra Modi does not want this. This will change Indian politics completely.”
While addressing in Raigarh, Gandhi said his party would fight for the 1.5 lakh candidates who were selected for the Army from 2019-2021 but were not recruited after the central government introduced the Agniveer scheme. He said Congress would ensure the candidates either get compensation or are recruited. While interacting with some children, he said, “Earlier, kids like you aspired to join the Army and the Army used to protect them for their entire life.”
“Now, the BJP has brought the Agniveer scheme… If an Agniveer gets injured on the China border or is martyred, he will not get the martyr status,” he added.
“Those who have trained hard for 5 years… About 1.5 lakh people were selected to the Army and for the first time in the history of Hindustan, they were not recruited. They (BJP) have no interest in the patriotic feelings of youngsters. These youngsters met me and cried,” he said.
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“Earlier, our country’s ordnance factory used to make rifles but their contract was snatched and given to Adani,” he said, adding that after he raised this issue in Parliament, “my membership was cancelled and I was asked to vacate my official residence. I don’t need their house as I live in the hearts of people.” –
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
