Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that his party will remove the 50 per cent cap on the reservation when it comes to power.
Addressing Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Ranchi, the former Congress chief accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party BJP of snatching the rights of Dalit, Tribal and Backward Classes.
PM Modi vows to respect Dalit, tribal and backward classes, but then he takes away their rights, adding, Gandhi said, “He gives you respect, but expels you from institutions.” The Congress leader also criticised tribals being reportedly termed as “vanvasis” and alleged that the BJP was trying to destroy their history.
“When BJP calls ‘Adivasi’ ‘Vanvasi’, what are they trying to do? They are trying to erase your history, philosophy, science, medical science and lifestyle. Adivasi means those who came first, whereas ‘Vanvasi’ means those who live in forest,” the Rae Bareli MP said.
Hitting out at the BJP, Gandhi alleged that the saffron party controls the Election Commission of India, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the income tax department and the bureaucracy.
“The BJP also controls funds and institutions but we possess honesty. The Congress fought the Lok Sabha elections without money,” he said.
He also claimed that the Constitution is under attack by the BJP and needs to be protected. Gandhi further alleged that the Constitution is under constant attack from all sides, including PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and it needs to be protected.
This was Gandhi’s first visit to Jharkhand after the Assembly elections schedule was announced in the state by the Election Commission. Earlier in the day, he met Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the capital.
After the first round of talks with the Opposition bloc INDIA, the Chief Minister announced to contest the Assembly elections together, with his party JMM and Congress to fight on 70 seats and on the remaining 11 seats the RJD and the Left parties will contest.
Meanwhile, RJD expressed its disappointment over the announcement of JMM and Congress contesting 70 of 81 seats in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Ranchi, RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said: “We are here at the request of our leader Tejashwi ji. We had a meeting this morning and it was decided RJD has the strength and mass base. Last time we contested on 7 seats because Lalu ji had a big heart, his goal was to oust the BJP, and the goal is the same even today.”
In a post in Hindi on X, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said: “I became aware of the sentiments of senior leaders and workers of Jharkhand RJD regarding the alliance and election preparations in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. The national president will take the final decision according to the strong position and social base of RJD in Jharkhand.”
The Assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20. The result will be announced on November 23.