Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Criticizes Rahul Gandhi’s Remarks in the USA

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 10: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his comments made in the USA. Athawale stated that there is no need to discuss reservations outside India and assured that the Constitution is safe as long as Prime Minister Modi is alive.

Athawale said, “I think reservation in India will end when people from the bottom come up; here everyone should get economic justice along with social justice. When Rahul Gandhi goes outside India, he talks against India. There is no need to go there and talk about reservations. The Constitution is not in danger. As long as Prime Minister Modi and we are alive, there is no threat to the Constitution.”

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, mentioned that the Congress party would consider scrapping reservations when India becomes a “fair place.” He made these remarks while interacting with students and faculty at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Gandhi emphasized the need for a caste census, highlighting that 90% of the country’s population, including OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis, lack proper representation. He said, “There’s an elephant in the room. When we talk about the capture of institutions, businesses, and the media, the elephant in the room is that 90% of India–OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis–aren’t even part of the game. That’s really the elephant in the room.”

Gandhi further explained that the caste census is essential to assess the participation of lower castes, backward castes, and Dalits since independence. He pointed out the disparity in representation within the Indian government, stating that out of 70 key bureaucrats, only a few belong to these communities.

He added, “If you look at the Indian government, there are 70 bureaucrats who run the Indian government, secretaries to the government of India. These are the people who make almost all the financial decisions…Out of 70 people there is one tribal, three Dalits, three OBCs and a minority. 90 per cent of India in the government of India has access to less than 10 per cent of the positions that determine how money is going to be spent. When you look at the financial numbers, then Tribals get 10 paise out of Rs 100, Dalits get Rs 5 out of Rs 100, and OBCs get a similar amount.”

Gandhi also stressed that the INDIA bloc aims to defend the Constitution and most alliance partners support holding a caste census. He criticized the concentration of business control in the hands of ‘two businessmen.’

Rahul Gandhi is currently visiting the United States. He will spend two days in Washington before returning to Delhi. Earlier, he addressed the Indian diaspora in Virginia and interacted with students and teachers at the University of Texas in Dallas.