Rahul Gandhi Talks About Fairness and Caste Census at Georgetown University
Washington DC [US], September 10: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, spoke at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He emphasized that the Congress party will consider scrapping reservations only when India becomes a fair place, which it currently is not.
The Elephant in the Room
Gandhi highlighted the lack of representation for 90% of India’s population, including OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis, in key sectors like business, media, and the judiciary. He called this the ‘elephant in the room’ and stressed the need for a caste census to understand the socio-economic status of these communities.
Need for Surveys
He also advocated for socio-economic and institutional surveys to assess the participation of lower castes in various sectors. According to Gandhi, out of the top ten businesses in India, almost none are owned by these communities. Similarly, their representation in the highest courts and national media is almost non-existent.
On Reservations
When asked about his stance on reservations, Gandhi stated that Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs are still not getting fair participation in the system. He pointed out that only a small fraction of bureaucrats in the Indian government come from these communities.
INDIA Bloc and Economic Issues
Gandhi also discussed the INDIA bloc’s commitment to defending the Constitution and the need for a caste census. He criticized the BJP for misrepresenting the alliance and attacked the NDA-led government for economic issues, including rising social tension and unemployment. He termed GST as ‘anti-production’ and criticized the government for waiving off loans for big businesses while ignoring small and medium-sized enterprises.
Rahul Gandhi is currently on a visit to the United States, where he has interacted with students, faculty, and the Indian diaspora.
Doubts Revealed
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and a member of the Congress party. He is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of India’s Parliament.
Georgetown University -: Georgetown University is a famous university located in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It is known for its strong programs in politics, law, and international relations.
Lok Sabha -: Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s Parliament. It is where elected representatives discuss and make laws for the country.
Congress party -: The Congress party is one of the major political parties in India. It has a long history and has been in power many times since India became independent.
Reservations -: Reservations in India are a system where a certain percentage of seats in education and jobs are set aside for people from disadvantaged communities like OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis.
OBCs -: OBCs stands for Other Backward Classes. These are communities in India that are socially and educationally disadvantaged.
Dalits -: Dalits are people who belong to the lowest caste in India’s traditional caste system. They have faced discrimination and social exclusion for many years.
Adivasis -: Adivasis are the indigenous people of India. They are also known as tribal people and have their own unique cultures and traditions.
Caste census -: A caste census is a survey that collects data on the different castes in India. This helps in understanding the social and economic conditions of various communities.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is another major political party in India and is currently in power.
NDA -: NDA stands for National Democratic Alliance. It is a coalition of political parties in India led by the BJP.
Indian diaspora -: The Indian diaspora refers to people of Indian origin who live outside India. They often maintain cultural and family ties with India.