Priyanka Gandhi Challenges PM Modi and Amit Shah on Caste Census
Shirdi, Maharashtra
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to commit to a caste census. Speaking at a rally in Shirdi, she urged them to publicly declare their intention to conduct the census and remove the 50% reservation cap. This comes ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections on November 20.
Priyanka highlighted her brother Rahul Gandhi’s efforts, noting his Bharat Jodo Yatra aimed at advocating for a caste census. She accused the BJP of spreading misinformation about Rahul’s stance on reservations, emphasizing the need for accurate population data to allocate reservations effectively.
Her comments followed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s position on the caste census. Singh accused Rahul of misleading the public and called for a clear plan on reservation allocation.
The political climate in Maharashtra is heating up as the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) compete for voter support. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, and Congress 44. The MVA performed strongly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, securing 30 out of 48 seats.
Doubts Revealed
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party. She is the daughter of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, and the sister of Rahul Gandhi.
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been in office since 2014.
Amit Shah -: Amit Shah is an Indian politician and the current Minister of Home Affairs. He is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a close associate of PM Modi.
Caste Census -: A caste census is a survey conducted to collect data on the different castes in a country. In India, this data can help in making decisions about reservations and policies for different social groups.
Shirdi, Maharashtra -: Shirdi is a town in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is famous for being the home of the spiritual leader Sai Baba.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are elections held in Indian states to choose representatives for the state’s legislative assembly. These elections determine who will govern the state.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, a major political party in India. It is currently the ruling party at the national level.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party. He is the brother of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and has served as the party’s president.
Rajnath Singh -: Rajnath Singh is an Indian politician and the current Defence Minister of India. He is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mahayuti -: Mahayuti is an alliance of political parties in Maharashtra, primarily led by the BJP and its allies.
MVA -: MVA stands for Maha Vikas Aghadi, an alliance of political parties in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Indian National Congress.
