The Congress leader alleged that PM Modi always used to say that he was an OBC but stopped talking about it soon after I raised the issue of conducting caste census in the country

Satna, EW News : Caste census is a revolutionary step that will change the lives of the people, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, stressing that his party will get the survey conducted in Madhya Pradesh as well as at national level if voted to power.
Addressing a rally at Satna in MP, where assembly elections will be held on November 17, he also slammed the BJP-led Centre over rising unemployment.

“After coming to power in the state, the first thing to be done is conducting a caste census to know the exact number of OBCs in Madhya Pradesh. It is like an X-ray which will reveal all (number of other backward classes) and accordingly policies will be framed for their welfare,” he said.

The Congress will also carry out caste census at the national level if it is brought to power at the Centre, he said, calling the exercise a “revolutionary and life-changing step” for the people.

Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always used to say that he was an OBC but stopped talking about it soon after the Congress leader raised the issue of conducting caste census in the country.

Of the 53 IAS officers who run Madhya Pradesh, he said, only one is an OBC. “This means if the state's total budget is Rs 100, then the OBC official has control over just 33 paisa or .03 per cent,” he claimed.

Gandhi alleged that because of debt-related hardships, 18,000 farmers have died by suicide in MP in the past 18 years. Referring to unemployment, he said that Demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) attacked small-medium businesses and traders. “It resulted in this (joblessness) situation in the country,” Gandhi said. Citing his experience during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Gandhi claimed that 50 per cent of the population of this country belongs to OBCs.

Termig caste census an X-ray, he said it was necessary to ensure the participation of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the government as per their proportion in population. Taking a potshot at the Centre’s crop insurance scheme, he said that money from this scheme is being taken out from people's pockets and given to 16 companies.

Whenever farmers seek relief under the scheme after calamities and want money, which belongs to OBCs, Dalits, tribals and farmers, these companies deny that any calamity ever took place, the Congress leader alleged. Gandhi said that none from Dalits, OBCs and tribal communities work in these 16 insurance companies.

“Narendra Modi doesn’t want OBCs to know their correct population,” Gandhi said, adding that he will ensure that a caste census is conducted if the Congress is elected to power.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Gandhi said that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he encountered a large number of youths who had degrees but no jobs. “This is the truth of his state and country. Youths are capable, have energy and want to strengthen the country but they are not able to get employment,” he said.

Gandhi said employment is not really provided by big industrialists. Small- and medium-scale industries and small businesses generate jobs, he said.