The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a striking assertion at Palghar’s Wada taluka during his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ Congress luminary Rahul Gandhi underscored the alarming underrepresentation of OBCs, Dalits, tribals, and backward groups, who together form 88 percent of India’s demographic fabric, in critical spheres such as administration, the judiciary, and media. Gandhi, the Lok Sabha member from Kerala’s Wayanad, voiced concerns over the negligible influence these communities hold in the distribution of power and wealth, predominantly commandeered by a scant 6 percent of the population.
Gandhi critically evaluated the inefficacy of crop insurance policies, which ostensibly serve private insurers at the expense of the agrarian community. He illustrated the plight of farmers, who, despite facing adversities like rain and hailstorm damage, receive scant support owing to substantial premiums paid out to insurance companies. The conversation took a political turn as Gandhi promised a nationwide caste census aimed at rectifying the imbalances pervasive in administration among other sectors, should Congress ascend to power.
Highlighting a stark disparity in societal representation, Gandhi reiterated the need for inclusivity of OBCs, Dalits, tribals, and backward communities in various sectors. He also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, querying his contributions towards the welfare of OBCs, while alleging that the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) disproportionately burdens the impoverished. Gandhi lamented the acquisition of lands for development projects, which often displaces the economically disadvantaged rather than affluent industrialists.
The narrative culminated in Gandhi’s trek through Palghar district, adjacent to Mumbai, incorporating stops in predominantly tribal regions including Mokhada, Jawhar, and Wada, marking the concluding phases of his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.’ Through these engagements, Gandhi cast a spotlight on the systemic inequities plaguing vast swathes of India’s population, advocating for a recalibration of the socio-political landscape to foster a more equitable and inclusive society.