Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during a campaign in Jharkhand on Friday, directly challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s push for a caste-based census. Singh held three rallies in the state, responding sharply to Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of misleading the public. He demanded that Gandhi present a detailed blueprint for implementing caste-based reservations across the country.
“By advocating for a caste census, Rahul Gandhi seems to be diverting the focus of the people. He must clarify how he plans to distribute the percentage of reservations to eligible castes. He should lay out a concrete plan for a national discussion,” said Singh.
Rahul Gandhi’s Caste Census Push and Promise of Reservation Overhaul
Addressing a gathering in Godda, Jharkhand, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the caste census would reshape India’s socio-political landscape. He argued that it would reveal the underrepresentation of tribals, Dalits, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in key institutions. Gandhi further promised that the Congress would dismantle the existing 50% reservation cap if voted into power.
Singh also took a dig at Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir’s statement regarding subsidized LPG cylinders for alleged infiltrators in Jharkhand. “Our priority is to identify and deport infiltrators. We have made it clear in our manifesto,” Singh declared.
Singh pointed out the unstable political history of Jharkhand, mentioning that the state had seen 13 different Chief Ministers, with three facing jail time due to corruption charges. He emphasized that BJP’s three Chief Ministers have had no such accusations, signaling the party’s clean governance record. He asserted that early election trends indicate a likely victory for the BJP-NDA coalition.
Criticism of INDIA Bloc and Allegations of Corruption
Singh criticized the INDIA bloc, comprising JMM-Congress-RJD, accusing them of widespread corruption. He alleged that the alliance’s history of corrupt practices has damaged states where they held power. Singh stated, “Wherever Congress has partnered in elections, it has led to the downfall of that state. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in Jharkhand is marred by corruption.”
The Defence Minister also accused Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren of removing Champai Soren from the post of Chief Minister for personal gains. He suggested that this move was motivated by a desire to engage in large-scale corruption. Singh lamented the current state of governance in Jharkhand, saying, “The situation has deteriorated so much that even a death certificate requires a bribe.”