Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, on Saturday, accused the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar of conducting a caste survey that he described as an attempt to deceive the public.

Speaking at a ‘Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan’ in Patna, he emphasized the necessity of a nationwide caste census to ascertain the level of representation and participation of OBCs, Dalits, and workers in bureaucratic and other sectors.

“The objective of the caste census should not only be to count various castes but also to understand their contributions to the nation’s wealth. We do not want a caste survey like the one carried out by the Bihar government, which merely aimed to mislead the people,” said Gandhi.

He also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stating that its MPs from backward communities feel restricted and confined. “Where is it stated in the Constitution of India that the wealth of India should belong solely to a select few? Today’s MLAs and MPs lack real power,” Gandhi remarked. He recounted his conversations with BJP MPs from backward communities and said they express a sense of being “put in a cage.”

Gandhi pointed out that while Dalits and individuals from backward communities have been granted representation, their power has been diminished. “Once it became evident that people from the backward communities and Dalits were gaining representation, the government conferred it but stripped away their power. The real power now lies with Ambani, Adani, and the RSS, who place their affiliates in every organization,” he asserted.

Additionally, the Leader of the Opposition took aim at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who suggested that the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya represented India’s “true independence.” Gandhi criticized Bhagwat’s statement, saying, “Recently, Mohan Bhagwat claimed that India did not achieve independence on August 15, 1947. If he is suggesting this, then he is rejecting the Constitution of India.”

He further stated, “Bhagwat is actively erasing the ideologies of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Lord Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi from various institutions across India.”

In a sharp rebuke of Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described the country as a “cancer” that is now affecting its own society. His comments were made during the 19th Nani A Palkhivala Memorial Lecture in Mumbai, where he also outlined India’s diplomatic stance over the past decade.

“Pakistan stands as an exception in our neighborhood, primarily due to its support for cross-border terrorism, which is akin to a cancer affecting its own body politic,” Jaishankar stated. He emphasized the collective regional interest in seeing Pakistan move away from such policies.

In his lecture, Jaishankar expressed that despite India’s non-Western alignment, it maintains a strategy that is not anti-West, advocating for advancement in critical and emerging technologies. He also pointed out the challenges posed by the “weaponisation of financial institutions,” suggesting that India needs to bolster its internal growth and reduce external vulnerabilities.

The minister used the term ‘vishwabandhu’, meaning a friend to the world, to describe India’s role on the global stage, aiming to enhance relationships while safeguarding national interests.

Jaishankar’s remarks also covered the importance of middle powers in regional politics and how India has expanded its diplomatic reach through strategic partnerships, highlighting mutual respect, sensitivity, and interest as the pillars of India’s foreign policy.

“The past decade has demonstrated our ability to progress on multiple fronts, advancing diverse relationships without exclusivity and effectively bridging divides in polarized situations,” he concluded.

As the political temperature in Delhi heats up with the upcoming elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has affirmed its commitment to continue the welfare schemes initiated by the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This announcement was part of BJP’s recently unveiled manifesto, which was immediately met with skepticism by AAP’s chief, Arvind Kejriwal.

During the release of BJP’s three-part ‘Sankalp Patra’, which focuses on women’s welfare, Union Minister JP Nadda outlined plans that include financial support for women, young mothers, and senior citizens, along with subsidies for cooking gas cylinders. However, Kejriwal seized on these promises to question the BJP’s rationale for asking for votes if their plan only mirrors existing schemes.

Kejriwal’s response was sharp, especially on social media where he pointed out that even BJP members’ families benefit from the welfare policies his government implemented. He provocatively asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved of the BJP’s promise of continuing ‘free revdi’—a term Modi used pejoratively to describe AAP’s freebie culture. Kejriwal demanded Modi to acknowledge that these initiatives were beneficial rather than detrimental.

Moreover, the AAP leader criticized the BJP for lacking a substantive plan for Delhi, particularly in addressing the law-and-order situation, which he referred to amid discussions of ongoing gang conflicts in the region. He dismissed the BJP’s manifesto as a mere replication of AAP’s policies without original vision.

The BJP, through Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva, retorted by accusing Kejriwal of misunderstanding the difference between mere handouts and actual empowerment. Sachdeva emphasized that BJP’s vision encompasses comprehensive development and empowerment, contrasting it with AAP’s approach.

Nadda, during the manifesto release, also targeted the AAP for alleged corruption, especially criticizing the Mohalla Clinics as corrupt institutions, promising investigations if BJP is elected.

As the electoral battle in Delhi intensifies, both parties continue to spar over the implications of their policies, each trying to sway the electorate with promises of better governance and accusations of inadequate leadership.