Congress will do away with 50% cap on reservations, says Rahul Gandhi in Telangana

Rahul Gandhi said if the BJP came to power again, it would scrap the Indian Constitution and put an end to the reservations for various sections.

“Congress always cared about the backward classes, Adivasis and SCs. The party has decided to conduct caste census across the nation on the lines of the one underway in Telangana, to ensure justice for the people of all castes,” Rahul Gandhi said.

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Accuses BJP of trying to scrap reservation

Taking a swipe at the BJP for the privatisation binge that was going on in the country, he said that it was being done to make sure that reservations would finally disappear since there would be no public sector undertakings left in the future.

“If Narendra Modi had any concern for the BCs, let him say that he was in favour of increasing reservations for them beyond the 50 percent cap now. Narendra Modi has not yet said anywhere that he would increase reservations beyond the 50 percent limit,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi described the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha as a battle between the Congress which is trying to protect the Constitution and the BJP which wants to scrap it altogether.

He said the BJP wants to come to power for the third time to see reservations rescinded.

“If the people have freedom and rights, it is because the Constitution has guaranteed them. If there is no Constitution, there would be no rights for any section of society,” he said and accused the BJP of helping the rich by robbing the poor.

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‘BJP is against farmers’

He came down on the BJP for criticising Congress for its policy of financially helping the farmers.

“The BJP says if any financial assistance is given to farmers or the youth, it would make them lazy,” he pointed out.

Rahul Gandhi said that in Telangana the Congress government was providing LPG cylinders at a cost of ₹500, 200 units of free power, free bus rides to women and so on.

“Similar measures will be implemented at the national level after INDIA comes to power at the Centre. We will usher in a governance committed to the welfare of the poor and the disadvantaged. It would mark the end of the BJP dispensation which always served the interests of the rich,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi said that after INDIA comes to power at the Centre, they would commission a socio-economic survey and prepare a list of poor women, who would be provided ₹1 lakh per year directly to their bank accounts.

“Those with university degrees will be employed for one year, steps will be taken to double the income of ASHA and Anganwadi workers and resolve the land issues of the Adivasis,” he said.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said he would adopt Adilabad to ensure its all-round development. He also promised to take steps to credit the remaining Rythu Bharosa money for the farmers by 9 May. He also reiterated that farmers’ crop loans up to ₹2 lakh would be waived off by Independence Day.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)