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Rahul says will continue to fight for quota in pvt edu institutions

Rahul says will continue to fight for quota in pvt edu institutions

PATNA: Congress MP and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered a nationwide caste census 'out of fear' of the country's deprived sections.
Interacting with students from SC, ST, OBC and EBC categories at Ambedkar Hostel in Bihar's Darbhanga district as part of the party's 'Shiksha Nyay Samvad' programme, Gandhi said that the Prime Minister conceded the demand to avoid backlash from the deprived sections.
He exhorted youngsters to remain focused on three demands: an effective caste census, like in Congress-ruled Telangana, reservations in private educational institutions, and the release of funds under the SC/ST sub-plan.
Rahul said that youngsters can't expect these things from the ruling NDA. 'But rest assured that your interest will be taken care of when we come to power, be in Bihar or at the Centre,' it emphasised.
He said he would continue fighting for reservations in private educational institutions. 'I will make sure that you are not distracted from your focus and you get your rights. You all have to understand your strength,' he told the gathering.
He alleged that the Prime Minister was against the caste census. 'I told PM Modi in parliament that he has to conduct a caste census. Due to pressure and fear of backlash from the public, PM Modi ordered a caste census. But the fact is that he is against caste census and the Constitution,' he asserted.

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A century ago, from within the confines of the Coimbatore prison, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy envisioned a publication that would speak 'unflinching truths to power'. That vision materialised as Kudiarasu (Republic), a Tamil weekly that became not only a mouthpiece of the Self-Respect Movement but also a platform for challenging caste oppression, colonial subjugation, and religious orthodoxy. In the early 1920s, when Periyar was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress, he was imprisoned for leading a protest. During this period of incarceration, he and fellow activist Va. Mu. Thangaperumal Pillai discussed the need for a powerful platform to express bold and honest opinions. This need sparked the idea for Kudiarasu, which would become a crucial weapon in the battle for social justice and rationalism. 'After his release, Periyar formally registered the name Kudiarasu on January 19, 1923,' writes Sa. Su. Ilango in his book Kudiarasu Yettil Puratchi Kavignar Kavithaigal. 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From its second issue, it was published every Sunday, but the day of publication was changed to Saturday in 1943. A few months after its launch, Periyar's differences with Congress leaders became more pronounced. He left the party in 1925. Then, he dedicated himself to the Self-Respect Movement, and Kudiarasu became its mouthpiece. In its early years, the editor's name was printed as E.V. Ramasamy Naicker. However, after December 18, 1927, he dropped the caste name from the publication. The journal had a broad and inclusive visual language in its early years. Its cover featured images of Bharat Mata, farmers, labourers, and symbols from Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. From April 1926 to December 1927, it included slogans such as 'Long Live Mahatma Gandhi' and 'Long Live Khadi'. Though Periyar had left Congress by then, he still supported Gandhi's initiatives like the Khadi movement and wrote in support of it. 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