Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday, expressed the party’s commitment to conducting a caste survey if it assumes power at the Centre. She specified that the Kadugolla community in Karnataka would be among those considered for inclusion among Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Speaking at a rally in Chitradurga, Karnataka, she affirmed that the Congress would introduce a constitutional amendment to elevate the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
“For Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and OBC like my brother (Rahul Gandhi) says everywhere, a complete count will be done in the entire country as to who belongs to which caste and how much is their population and who is earning how much and then new policies will be made under that. Reservation limit will be increased from 50 per cent and the SC, ST sub-plan will be implemented. Special budget will be issued for SC, ST, and Kadugolla community will be given ST status,” she said.
Members of the Kadugolla community are spread across 38 taluks in 11 districts, residing in 1,264 hamlets known as ‘hattis,’ which are isolated from villages like ‘islands’ and often lack basic amenities. Their population in Karnataka is estimated to range between 5 to 6 lakh. In Andhra Pradesh, they are primarily found in Rayadurga, Kalyandurga, and Madakasira taluks.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleding that “the biggest leader of the country has given up morality, does drama before people and does not walk on the path of truth.”
“I want to explain to you in-depth what is happening in our country today. There are two different realities in the country today. One reality is inflation, unemployment is increasing and the other reality which you see on TV, where you see our Prime Minister, who tells you with all his fame and glory that this country is progressing rapidly,” the Congress leader said.
She claimed that there are efforts underway to undermine the opposition by stifling their voices, freezing bank accounts, and imprisoning two chief ministers.
“There was a time when a leader would stand up, and people of the country expected him to be an ethical person. They would expect morality from him but today ‘the biggest leader’ of the country has given up morality and does drama before you,” the Congress leader alleged.
“The biggest leader of the nation goes out to show off his clout, his pride, and his fame but does not walk on the path of truth.”
Discussing the electoral bonds scheme, which the Supreme Court has deemed unconstitutional, the Congress leader accused companies that were raided of donating to the BJP, following which cases against them were reportedly closed.
“PM Modi brought a scheme – electoral bonds. Under this scheme, anyone who would fund a political party, his or her name would not be disclosed. However, the Supreme Court said that this scheme would lead to an increase in corruption, and the names of those who have funded a political party should be disclosed. It is now clear how the black money was made white through demonetisation and then it was deposited in BJP’s account. How the companies that were unable to earn even Rs 100 crore, donated Rs 1,100 crore to the BJP (under the electoral bond scheme),” she alleged.
The Lok Sabha elections for 28 seats in Karnataka will be conducted in two phases, with polling scheduled for April 26 and May 7. Vote counting will take place on June 4. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured victory in 25 out of the 28 seats independently.