Assuring that a caste census in Telangana would be conducted once Congress is voted to power, MP and party leader Rahul Gandhi said that the most pressing issue in India right now is the caste census. “It is like an X-ray that reveals the percentage of BCs, SC, ST, and minorities, enabling equitable budget allocation. I questioned in Parliament why only three out of 90 Cabinet secretaries are OBCs and why only 5% of the budget is allocated to OBCs,” he said, underlining the need for a pan-India caste census.
Speaking to a massive turnout at Kataram in Bhupalapally district on the second day of his yatra in poll-bound Telangana on Thursday, he said the caste census will reveal how much Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s family has looted Telangana. Describing the State Assembly Elections-2023 as a battle between “Dorala Telangana and Prajala Telangana” (Feudals Telangana and People’s Telangana), Gandhi said the “anarchy government” of the BRS must go.
Gandhi continued “You dreamed of a Telangana where its people would govern. However, in the last ten years, your Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao distanced himself from the people and only his family was ruling the state, shattering your dream.” Telangana, the Congress leader claimed, has the highest corruption in India, which adversely affects the youth and women of Telangana, but there were no cases against the Chief Minister KCR or the raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). “I am questioning the BJP government on its corruption and there are cases against me.”
“The BJP is filing cases against opposition parties to silence their voices, yet there are no cases against Mr KCR. The absence of CBI and ED cases against CM KCR raises questions,” he argued and appealed to the people to see through the games of BJP and BRS. He also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), BRS, and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AMIM) were collaborating to attack the Congress party. “Congress is contesting elections against BJP in many other states and the MIM fields candidates to assist the BJP. BJP is benefiting from AMIM’s support,” he charged.
The Congress will implement its six guarantees in Telangana, he said, adding they have not come here with false promises and accused KCR of not fulfilling his electoral promises. Stating that the relationship of the Gandhi family with Telangana was of love and affection and not a political relationship that is maintained by Chief Minister KCR, he said “In 2004, Congress promised to create Telangana and fulfilled your promises. And we will fulfill all the promises made to Telangana.” The primary promise of the Congress’ manifesto for Telangana state is the Mahalakshmi scheme that promises a monthly allowance for women, subsidised LPG, and free bus rides.