During the Congress Constitution Conference, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the party's shortcomings. He took aim at the government and the RSS over the lack of representation for Dalits, Backward Classes, and Adivasis (tribals). He advocated for the principle of "representation proportional to population." Rahul reiterated Congress's commitment to a caste census. He also raised questions regarding the Centre's energy security policy.
Speaking at the Congress Constitution Conference in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi spoke candidly about the party’s flaws. He stated that Kanshi Ram was able to succeed precisely because of the shortcomings within the Congress party. Had Congress performed its duties effectively, Kanshi Ram would not have been able to achieve such success. He further remarked that if Jawaharlal Nehru were alive today, Kanshi Ram would have been a Congress Chief Minister.
Rahul Gandhi leveled a major allegation against the Central Government. He asserted that today, one would not find a single Dalit, Backward Class, or Adivasi doctor in any major hospital—despite the Constitution advocating for “representation proportional to population.” He urged people to look at the list of beneficiaries under MGNREGA; in it, one would find that 85% belong to Backward Classes, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities.
**No OBCs, Dalits, or Adivasis in Senior Positions within the RSS**
He challenged people to examine the organizational hierarchy of the RSS; among the list of senior functionaries, one would not find a single OBC, Dalit, or Adivasi member. On one hand, this 85% demographic sits on the sidelines, effectively being told that this country does not belong to them. “We may pay lip service by calling you ‘Hindustanis’ (Indians), but when it comes to the distribution of wealth, the governance of the nation, or the exercise of power, you are deemed *not* to be Hindustanis. You are treated as something else entirely. This stands in absolute contradiction to the spirit of the Constitution.”
**Ambedkar, Gandhi, and Kanshi Ram Never Compromised**
Rahul Gandhi drew a distinction between Ambedkar, Gandhi, Kanshi Ram, and Savarkar. He noted that Ambedkar, Gandhi, and Kanshi Ram never compromised on their principles—indeed, they were incapable of doing so. “Just look at Modi ji’s face,” he remarked; “this tendency toward compromise is an old habit of his organization. Our nation’s energy security has been compromised. The very choice of the individual appointed as the Oil Minister serves as the first instance of such a compromise.” Narendra Modi Compromised Energy Security
He stated, “You elevated him from the bureaucracy and appointed him a minister.” Narendra Modi has compromised the country’s energy security, as it is now the United States that dictates where we source our oil. The Congress party has now resolved to conduct a caste census, ensuring that the Backward Classes and Dalits secure a place within the centers of power.
Abhijit Thakur
Courtesy: Hindi News