Caste census an X-ray of country; we will force Centre to conduct it: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed the caste census an Xray of the country that will throw light on the condition of OBCs Dalits and tribals who are injured and said his party would force the Centre to conduct this exercise come what may reported news agency PTIHe also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not speaking on the issue of caste censusAddressing a public meeting at Beohari in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh a day after the dates for the state assembly polls were announced Gandhi said BJPruled Madhya Pradesh is a laboratory of BJP and RSSCaste census is an Xray of the country Tribals Dalits and OBCs of the country are injured Let us checkIt will clear the picture he saidWe will force the Central government to conduct a caste census come what may to know the truth about the condition of OBCs Dalits and tribals in the country Our governments in Rajasthan Karnataka and Chhattisgarh have initiated a process for it Rahul Gandhi addedHe said the Congress was talking about caste census because people belonging to scheduled caste OBCs and tribals should get their due rightsAfter coming to power the caste census will also be conducted in Madhya Pradesh because the Congress wants to give the due rights to tribals and OBCs Rahul Gandhi addedHe said the Congress challenged PM Narendra Modi to release the data of the caste census done by Congress but instead of talking about it he talks about Pakistan Afghanistan and the SouthSpeak on caste census Gandhi addedThe former Congress president claimed only 90 top officers run the country and control the budget but only three of them belong to the OBC Other Backward Classes categoryThese OBC officers control just five per cent of the budget he claimedHe also alleged that tribal officers even dont make decisions of Re 1 or 25 paisa They make decisions about only 10 paisaGandhi asked the gathering why OBC youths are unemployed Answering the question himself he said Because you OBC are not running the government of Hindustan and not making decisionsGandhi said a book written by Bharatiya Janata Party veteran L K Advani mentioned that Madhya Pradesh not Gujarat was the laboratory of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSSHe used the laboratory analogy to target the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh over several scamsMadhya Pradesh is a laboratory of several scams including offering medical treatment to deceased persons Vyapam and midday meal Atrocities are committed against tribals and women among others Gandhi allegedHe said they the BJP government didnt even spare Lord Shiva and committed irregularities in the development of Mahakal Lok a corridor at the famous Lord Mahakal temple in UjjainOn an average three farmers commit suicide daily in MP tribals are insulted A BJP leader urinated on a tribal while the government posts were being sold Gandhi allegedThe Congress leader further claimed that PM Modi used to describe tribals as vanvasis but he Gandhi has forced him to use the word AdivasiThere is a difference between the words Adivasi and Vanvasi Adivasi means those who come to Hindustan first and who are owners of this land while Vanvasis are those living in the forest Gandhi said and questioned the intention behind using the word vanvasiHe alleged rotten foodgrain was given to tribals in Madhya Pradesh during the COVID19 pandemicThe Congress had introduced PESA and Forest Rights Act under which only the Gram Sabha can take a decision about giving the land but the BJP said that there was no need to seek permission Gandhi saidHe alleged that 35 lakh pattas given to tribals were cancelled in Madhya Pradesh and their land was snatched by evicting them using forceGandhi said he had asked journalists attending a press conference on Monday to know who among them were OBCs tribals and DalitsBut none of the 200300 people present there raised their hands It is a question about the participation of OBC youths he saidGandhi said if Congress is voted to power in MP women will get Rs 1500 per month in their bank accountsLPG cylinders will be made available at Rs 500 while electricity up to 100 units will be free Wages of labourers engaged in plucking tendu patta will be increased to Rs 4000 he addedPolling for all 230 seats in MP will be held in a single phase on November 17The Congress is pitching the caste census as its main poll plank in a bid to attract OBC votersDuring his visit to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh PM Modi on Monday said the opposition party has played with the emotions of the poor and divided the country on caste lines for six decadesWith inputs from PTI