The Aryavarth Express
Agency( Madhya Pradesh): Rahul Gandhi, addressing supporters in Badnawar, Madhya Pradesh, declared that a caste census and the implementation of a legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural products would be the first orders of business for a Congress-led government. This statement was made during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, emphasizing the party’s commitment to social justice and agricultural welfare.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President, criticized the central government’s opaque handling of electoral bond purchasers, pointing to a broader issue of accountability and transparency under the BJP’s reign. This criticism came alongside a modification in the yatra’s itinerary, with the entry into Rajasthan being postponed to ensure thorough engagement with local communities in Madhya Pradesh.
Gandhi highlighted the revolutionary potential of a caste census, comparing its significance to the green and white revolutions, for its ability to precisely map the demographic and socioeconomic landscape of India’s diverse populations. He pointed out the underrepresentation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Backward Classes in various sectors, from industry to media, as evidence of systemic social injustice.
He also took aim at the BJP government’s economic policies, contrasting the substantial loan waivers granted to industrialists with the persistent financial struggles faced by farmers, who have been demanding MSP but to no avail. Gandhi’s narrative also touched on issues of tribal dignity and rights, criticizing the BJP’s terminology and policies towards tribal communities as part of a broader agenda to disenfranchise them.
Kharge expanded on the theme of transparency, lambasting the government’s reluctance to disclose the identities of electoral bond donors. He accused the BJP of facilitating a cycle of corruption that benefits the elite at the expense of the broader populace. The Congress president also mocked the BJP’s propensity to absolve previously criticized politicians once they join its ranks, likening Home Minister Amit Shah’s influence to a “washing machine” for tainted leaders.
The call for a caste census was framed not only as a measure for SCs and STs’ welfare but as a necessary step for understanding the plight of all economically and socially marginalized groups, including those from upper castes. Amid these discussions, Gandhi continued to engage with the public through a roadshow, reinforcing his and Congress’s solidarity with the people’s struggles and aspirations for justice and equity.
As the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra prepares to move into Rajasthan, the Congress’s messages of social justice, transparency, and economic fairness remain central themes, setting the stage for an intensified campaign in the lead-up to elections.