Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, launched a scathing attack on the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, accusing them of disrespecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and undermining the Constitution he crafted. Gandhi called upon Congress workers to stand united and protect the Constitution from those currently in power, whom he accused of attempting to dismantle its essence.
Speaking at the “Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan” rally, Rahul Gandhi made several significant announcements and allegations. One of his key promises was that the Congress would conduct a nationwide caste census immediately upon forming the government at the Centre. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reluctant to carry out such a survey because he is “afraid” of its implications.
Highlighting his party’s commitment to social justice, Gandhi pledged to go beyond the current 50% cap on reservations for marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He stated that the Congress would enact laws in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to ensure this change. “We will break the wall of 50% reservation and guarantee greater representation for the oppressed sections of society,” he asserted.
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led central government of favoring billionaires at the expense of Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and the economically disadvantaged. He claimed that these communities were being systematically marginalized as employment opportunities dwindled and the nation’s wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few crony capitalists. According to him, the BJP’s policies are akin to recreating a pre-independence era where only the wealthy enjoyed rights while the poor were left powerless.
“The BJP and the RSS are working to establish a situation similar to that of pre-independence India, where the poor had no rights, and the rich controlled everything. They want to bring back a time when Dalits, tribals, and backward communities had no voice,” Gandhi said in a sharp critique of the ruling dispensation.
He also alleged that the BJP and RSS are actively attempting to alter the Constitution, which was meticulously framed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to protect the rights of marginalized communities. Gandhi connected this agenda to the BJP’s slogan of “400 paar” during the previous Lok Sabha elections, implying their intent to secure enough seats to alter the Constitution.
“The BJP and the RSS want to change the Constitution, and their goal is evident from their push for ‘400 paar’ during the last general elections. If they succeed in doing so, the Constitution that safeguards the rights of the backward, Dalits, and tribals will be rendered meaningless. The day our Constitution is altered, there will be nothing left for these communities,” he warned.
Gandhi reiterated his commitment to the principles enshrined in the Constitution and urged Congress workers and supporters to defend it at all costs. He emphasized the importance of Ambedkar’s vision, stating that it is under threat from the current regime.
The rally, which aimed to resonate with marginalized communities, drew attention to the Congress party’s agenda of social and economic justice. By highlighting issues such as reservation, wealth disparity, and constitutional integrity, Rahul Gandhi positioned the Congress as a champion of the rights of oppressed groups and a bulwark against perceived authoritarianism.
The rally concluded with Gandhi’s call to action for Congress workers to stand firm in their resolve to uphold the Constitution and safeguard the rights of the underprivileged. With promises of a caste census, enhanced reservation, and stronger legislation to protect marginalized communities, Gandhi set the tone for a reinvigorated Congress campaign as the party gears up for the next general elections.
