New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Friday told a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting that the timing of the Union government announcing a caste count along with the next census was suspect, even though he called it a “first step” towards social justice in the country.
In the meeting, the Congress also decided to raise heat on the Centre, demanding “tangible action” against the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, with party leaders saying that the government’s assertion that the armed forces have been given full freedom to respond appears to be “an eyewash” in the absence of clear directions from the political leadership.
Sources said Rahul stressed on the need to make the public aware of the fact that the government shared no details on the proposed census, nor has it allocated money for the exercise. “Rahul Gandhi said the timing of the announcement is suspect as the entire country is in mourning right now for the victims of the Pahalgam attack,” a leader who attended the meeting told ThePrint.
The government announced Wednesday caste enumeration will be conducted along with the next population census.
Rahul, described by the CWC in its adopted resolution as the “strongest and most consistent voice demanding a nationwide caste census”, also outlined the roadmap the Congress would now follow, with the demand for a nationwide caste census having been met on paper.
“He said the party will now press for a constitutional amendment to enable reservations above the 50 per cent ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court. Also, the Congress will put pressure on the government to implement Article 15(5) to roll out reservations in private educational institutions,” the source added.
The resolution on caste census adopted by the CWC also underlined the need for the implementation of Article 15(5), saying the enabling of the provision, added through the 93rd Constitutional Amendment under the Congress-led UPA I government in 2005, was “overdue”.
“In an era when private institutions play an increasingly dominant role in higher education, the exclusion of marginalised communities from these spaces only worsens inequality. Article 15(5) is not just a constitutional provision, it is a social justice imperative. The Congress firmly believes that quality education must be made accessible to OBCs, EBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in both public and private institutions alike,” stated the resolution.
In the meeting, Rahul said if the Centre was willing to carry out the caste enumeration with sincerity, it would have to adopt the “Telangana model”, referring to the Socio Economic, Educational, Employment, Political, and Caste survey conducted by the state government led by the Congress.
“This exercise must not be delayed. All political parties must be taken into full confidence. Parliament must immediately have a debate on this issue. The government must immediately allocate the necessary funds and announce a clear timeline for every stage of the census, from the preparation of the questionnaire and methodology to the actual enumeration, classification, and eventual publication of the data.
“The data collected should serve as the basis for a wide-ranging review of public policy, especially in the areas of reservations, welfare schemes, educational access, and employment opportunities. The CWC believes that a caste census, properly designed and implemented, will work to the benefit of all sections of society,” added the CWC resolution.
The CWC also adopted a resolution on the 22 April Pahalgam terrorist attack emphasising on the need to “teach Pakistan a lesson” and curb terrorism decisively. It said that the entire country awaits accountability, answers, and justice.
“The CWC reaffirms its earlier demand for time-bound accountability into the serious lapses in security and intelligence in one of the most heavily guarded regions of the country. The people of India deserve transparency and accountability,” said the resolution.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in his speech at the CWC meeting, said “even after several days of this incident, no clear strategy has emerged from the government”.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said, “What steps will be taken by the 56-inch chest PM who used to talk about laal ankh (red eye)? Also, why was no security present at the Pahalgam tourist site?”
The Congress leadership, however, was careful to reiterate that this was not the time for partisanship, aiming to present itself as a responsible opposition.
“We must rise above partisan divides and send out an unambiguous message that India stands together and will not be broken,” the resolution stated.
Sources said that at the meeting Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra advised against using the word “inquiry” in the resolution. Upon her insistence, it was replaced with the word “accountability”. “The entire country awaits accountability, answers, and justice,” reads a line in the resolution.
Former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi, who also addressed the press conference after the meeting, struck a discordant note as the Congress has been trying to issue measured responses, seeking to avoid getting into any controversy.
He appeared to suggest the Balakot airstrikes undertaken after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 “never took place”. Channi also termed “pointless” the measures taken by the Centre since 22 April including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
“They have suspended the water treaty. That is not even possible. Even if they spend money over the next decade, they will be able to withhold at best 20 per cent water. Because the tilt of the earth is towards that side (Pakistan). The steps that they have taken have no value. How will the people of the country be satisfied with these steps?” Channi asked.
“Even after the previous attack when 40 soldiers had died (Pulwama), they had made tall claims. But till date I don’t know where the strikes had taken place, where men were killed, where it had happened in Pakistan. If someone comes and drops a bomb in our country, will we not know? They claimed to have carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan. No such thing happened, there were no surgical strikes,” Channi further said, adding that he has consistently demanded proof of the strikes.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
