Ranchi (Jharkhand): Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday admitted that it was a mistake that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government could not implement the Caste Census while being in power for 10 years.
The Congress MP also asserted that they will implement the Caste Census in Jaharkhand if the INDIA bloc comes to power.
Recently, the Congress-led Telangana government announced that it will conduct caste census. Earlier, Caste Census was conducted in Bihar under the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance headed by CM Nitish Kumar.
"UPA and Congress came out with the idea of a Caste Census. I consider it a mistake that we did not implement it then. We have a government in Telangana and we have a government in Karnataka. We are doing a detailed exercise, a public exercise where we are meeting with different stakeholders and we are preparing the questions of the caste census through a public discussion," Rahul Gandhi told reporters here in Ranchi.
The Lok Sabha LoP affirmed belief that the Caste Census would be a 'huge step' towards the development of the country.
"We have a very clear vision for the caste census. I guarantee you that when we implement the caste census, which we will do, as I have committed in the Lok Sabha and we will do in Jharkhand, it will be a huge step in the transformation and development of this country," he added.
Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the issue, Rahul Gandhi said, "The BJP people have no idea even how to do this, even if they wanted to do it."
Notably, the Congress party and the INDIA bloc have consistently advocated for a nationwide caste census, calling it a "progressive and significant step" for the briding inequality in the country.
The Jharkhand Assembly election is taking place in two phases. The first phase was held on November 13, and the second phase is scheduled for November 20.
The counting of votes will occur on November 23, and the results will be declared on the same day.
In the previous assembly election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in Mumbai and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "ek hain to safe hain" remarks.
The LoP in the Lok Sabha framed the election as a contest between the aspirations of the common people and the influence of a few wealthy individuals. He alleged that BJP wants to direct Rs 1 lakh crore to a single billionaire, a move that would disadvantage farmers, workers, and the unemployed.
"The Maharashtra election is an election of ideologies and an election between 1-2 billionaires and the poor. The billionaires want the land of Mumbai to go into their hands. The estimate is that Rs 1 lakh crores will be given to one billionaire. Our thinking is that Maharashtra, the farmers of Maharashtra, the poor, the unemployed, and the youth need help," Gandhi said.
