OBCs real productive force, not aware of own strength, says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi
on Friday sought to underplay the political challenge Prime Minister Modi has been posing to him and the
Congress
by claiming Modi "is only a show" whereas "the real problem in today's politics" is how the people belonging to the backward communities are not realising their collective strength.
In an apparent bid to skirt the tricky issue of the erstwhile Congress-led UPA regime not completing the caste census, he said at that time he was not fully aware of the issues of the other backward classes (OBCs) and that it was his mistake. He further said BJP made use of Congress' lapses in understanding the OBCs' problems.
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"You know what the real problem is in today's politics? No, not Modi. He is no problem. By now I got to know him better, through some meetings. He is only a show and has no substance. The real problem is that the people of backward communities are not realising their strength," Gandhi said at the 'Bhagidari Nyay Andolan' event organised by the OBC wing of the Congress.
The Congress leader sought to make light of Modi even as he had led his party to its worst successive defeats against the Modi-led BJP in the past three Lok Sabha polls. Gandhi said people belonging to the backward castes "are the real productive force" of the nation and yet they haven't been given their due by the government, something for which he and the Congress will now fight for.
The meeting renewed the Congress pledge to conduct a
national caste census
and lift 50% cap on reservation and implement the legislation for quota in private educational institutions.
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Gandhi alleged that the OBCs were not given a chance to learn their history because the RSS and its "Manuvadi" politics oppressed it. He again accused the BJP leaders of opposing English teaching while making their own children study in English-medium schools here and abroad.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also appealed to backward communities to join hands and strengthen their position in the elections.
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