With eye on OBC vote bank, Rahul, Kharge lead ‘bhagidari nyay mahasammelan’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday admitted his mistakes, saying “I did not do what I should have done for OBC; now I want to rectify my mistake.”

Speaking at the Congress’s Bhaagidari Nyay Sammelan held in Delhi on Friday, Gandhi said, “I have been in politics since 2004. When I look back, I feel I made a mistake. I did not protect the OBCs the way I should have. This happened because I did not understand your issues deeply at that time. I regret that if I had known even a little about your (OBC) history, your issues, I would have got the caste census done at that time. This is my mistake. This is not the fault of the Congress party, this is my mistake. I am going to correct that mistake.”

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Terming the OBC as the productive force of the country, he said his aim is to give respect to this power of the country. Citing the Telangana caste census data, Rahul said: “According to the data, no OBC, Dalit or Adivasi in Telangana got corporate packages worth crores. They are only standing in the queues of MNREGA.”

Rahul said that he wants to give respect to these people and uplift them.

“Fighting for the rights and entitlements of the OBC community is crucial to fulfilling the dreams of Mahatma Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Dr. B R Ambedkar. A strong and vibrant OBC movement is necessary for the social, educational, and economic upliftment of marginalized sections of society,” he emphasized.

The Congress party’s ‘OBC Leadership Bhagidari Nyay Mahasammelan’ in New Delhi marks a significant effort to reconnect with the Other Backward Classes community. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi led the event, emphasizing the party’s commitment to social justice and equality.

“We are committed to the welfare and empowerment of the OBC community,” said Mallikarjun Kharge, asserting: “Our fight for social justice and equality will continue, and we will ensure that the rights of the marginalized are protected.”

The Congress party has been demanding a nationwide caste census, modeled after the Telangana government’s Socio-Economic Survey (SEEEP), to gather data on the social, economic, educational, employment, and political aspects of each individual and caste.

Seeking to push for reservations beyond the 50% cap to ensure suitable representation for OBCs in education, service, politics, and other areas, the party demands reservations in private educational institutions as per Article 15(5) of the Constitution.

The Congress party’s efforts are directed towards promoting inclusive growth and ensuring equal opportunities for all sections of society.