In what the Congress calls a “people’s victory”, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a nationwide caste census, but pressed for clarity on the timeline and structure of the exercise. He also called for the removal of the 50% cap on reservations and the extension of quotas to private educational institutions.
Speaking at a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Gandhi said the announcement was sudden but in line with what the Congress had long been demanding. “This was our model. I’m glad the government has adopted it. But we want to know the dates, we want budgetary allocations, and we want transparency,” he said, flanked by Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh.
Gandhi cautioned the government against turning the caste census into another Women’s Reservation Bill — passed but yet to be implemented. “It shouldn’t be like that. We need a proper timeline,” he said.
Pushing for the adoption of what he called the “Telangana model”, Gandhi said the Congress was willing to assist the government in developing a participatory and open framework for the national caste survey. “In Telangana, consultations were held with stakeholders before designing the survey questions. That’s the kind of process we want,” he said.
A long-time advocate for a caste census, Gandhi reiterated his stance that the current 50% cap on reservations was outdated. “It is becoming an impediment to the progress of backward castes, Dalits, and Adivasis. It needs to go,” he said. He also advocated for a deeper inquiry into the representation of marginalised groups in the country’s power structures, saying the caste census was a “new paradigm for development”.
At the press meet, Gandhi also briefly addressed the Pahalgam terror attack and said the perpetrators must be brought to justice, calling upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure accountability.
The Congress party has been highlighting its consistent demand for a caste census. Gandhi reminded the media that party president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to the Prime Minister in April 2023 urging him to begin the process. “What more evidence is needed?” he asked.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the sentiment in a post on X, stating, “This is a victory for the people of the country and the commitment of Rahul Gandhi ji. The Congress party is committed to ensuring social justice and giving every section its fair share.”