Rahul Gandhi addresses Bhagidari Nyay Mahasammelan:
The Congress party organized the OBC Participation Mahasammelan at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Esteemed leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, attended this event. During his address, Rahul assured that championing the OBC cause is now his primary focus. He described Telangana's caste census as a political storm and criticized RSS as the biggest adversary to OBCs.
I Made a Mistake, I Couldn't Understand OBC: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, admitted to not having timely understood the challenges of the OBC community, a shortfall he considers one of his significant political oversights. He remarked, 'If I had perceived the grievances of OBC during the UPA's tenure, a caste census would have been initiated then.'
Rahul acknowledged that while he learned over time about the issues faced by Dalits, Adivasis, and women, he came to recognize OBC struggles later. He highlighted initiatives like MGNREGA, the food security law, and the Forest Rights Act as successes but admitted falling short regarding OBC concerns.
The Battle for OBC Rights is Now My Priority
Rahul Gandhi was unequivocal in declaring his unwavering commitment to this cause, vowing to advance OBC rights—from caste census to reservation expansion—to a pivotal juncture. He said, 'Ask PGV (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra), when Rahul Gandhi resolves something, does he retreat?'
Telangana's Caste Census an Unstoppable Force
Rahul Gandhi rightly termed Telangana's government-led caste census a 'storm' with remarkable insights. It's revealing how many OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis are employed in Telangana's corporate spaces within minutes.
Related Read: Bihar Election Boycott Issue Again Diverges Path for Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav He stated, 'Monetary packages largely benefit the upper castes while OBC, Dalit, and Adivasi communities handle labor-intensive roles.'
Narendra Modi is Not a Major Issue
In a sharp critique of the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi asserted, 'Narendra Modi is not a major issue; he's merely a face of propaganda without real power.' He said that the genuine problem is the RSS.
RSS as OBC's Greatest Adversary
Rahul Gandhi underlined that the OBC community's true opponent is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Breaking the 50% Reservation Barrier
He projected that after a caste census, the 50% reservation limit will naturally break. For example, Telangana's Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has already challenged this barrier.
Insights from Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Mahasammelan:
In his speech, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, 'This Bhagidari Nyay Mahasammelan is not merely a political meeting, but a collective call from India's marginalized and backward castes. Dr. Ambedkar once said — "Justice is the soul of the nation." Today, these marginalized voices call for an end to societal inequality.'
He noted that we must acknowledge India's social framework wasn't built on justice but on exclusion. The country builders, mainly from backward classes, were deprived of education, land, and leadership. Instead of honoring their labor, they were bound by societal chains. This wasn't accidental but a strategically enforced system. The BJP-RSS ideology doesn't aim to dismantle this system but rather glorify it.
