The 50 per cent ceiling on quotas has been termed as an 'artificial barrier'. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said here on Saturday that the Congress-led INDIA bloc will remove the reservation limit and also conduct a Caste Census in the country.
"No force in this world can stop us from doing this… it is a promise by the Congress. We shall conduct a Caste Census and also remove the 50 per cent cap on reservation to give the people their due," said Rahul Gandhi amidst thunderous applause.
Addressing a 'Samvidhan Samman Sammelan', the Congress MP said neither the Bharatiya Janata Party nor the RSS or Prime Minister Narendra Modi can stop them from these changes as the Congress and INDIA bloc are totally committed to taking reservation beyond the 50 per cent limit.
"A Caste Census is like an X-Ray. What is wrong with it? We need to have proper data of how many Dalits, OBCs, Tribals, women, minorities and the general castes people are there. We are trying to save the Constitution by demanding a Caste Census," said Rahul Gandhi.
He claimed that the Census will meet the dual purpose of determining which community has what population and the socio-economic survey will reveal the participation of these deprived sections in all the institutions of the country.
However, the BJP-RSS are opposed to such a survey and do not wish it to happen. They don't want the 90 percent of the citizens of this country to know the truth or in whose hands is the entire system of running the country. But we want to protect the Constitution and the quotas, said Rahul Gandhi.
He continued repeating the statistical data that he had produced earlier on how Dalits, OBCs, and other marginalized groups are neither having opportunities nor representations in industries, businesses, or legal courts, and now due to the process of privatizing different government organizations, the quotas are also being eliminated over there.
The deprived section people possessing knowledge, skills, talent, and experience are in a lagging position. Related history about Dalits and OBCs is being erased from education; academic sector was dominated by a particular group.
"Dreams of a child born in a poor family that dreams of becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer, but very few are able to achieve it. The rest are left behind. Under such circumstances, how will India become a 'Superpower' as is being claimed," Rahul Gandhi asked.
Speaking on the occasion, Kolhapur MP, Chhatrapati Shrimant Shahu Maharaj said that without quotas the progress of the backward community will not be achieved and that is why way back in 1902, the late Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj -- who enjoyed close rapport with B.R. Ambedkar -- had implemented reservations to ensure equality for all.
Later, Ambedkar had enshrined the reservation in the Constitution of India and it was implemented all over the country, but now alas, efforts are being made to dismantle the Constitution and to finish off the quotas, he asserted.
The galaxy of top Congress leaders, such as state President Nana F. Patole, AICC's Ramesh Chennithala, CWC's M. Arif Naseem Khan, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, Balasaheb Thorat, Satej D. Bunty Patil, and many others were present at the event.
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