Caste census very essential: Rahul Gandhi

HYDERABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that once INDIA bloc comes to power at the Centre it would implement measures that would be emulated across the globe.
Addressing a public meeting at Narsapur in Medak Lok Sabha constituency, Rahul stressed on the importance of the caste census. "The actual strength and backwardness of communities will be known ," he said.
He said the primary focus of the INDIA bloc was to protect the Constitution, which was the source of strength for SCs, STs, BCS, tribals, minorities and other sections."The numerical strength of these sections would be 90% of the country's population and they deserved reservations as per their numbers."
He said,"The entire country is being ruled by people whose population does not exceed 2-3%. When the INDIA bloc forms the govt, real power will be wielded by people whose numbers will become clear when a caste census is undertaken," he said.
Rahul Gandhi said that they will deposit 1 lakh in the name of a woman in each family belonging to the underprivileged. This would also include poor from sections of society which are considered forward classes. "Pehli naukri pakki," Rahul said as he promised that first job of the youth was guaranteed. Rahul said as many as 30 lakh govt jobs that were not filled by the Narendra Modi govt would be filled. By Aug, he said 2 lakh crop loan waiver would also be taken up.
"We will jumpstart the economy," he said while assuring farmers that they would get MSP for their produce.
MNREGA wages will be increased from 250 to 400 and salaries of Asha and Anganwadi workers will be doubled, he said. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy recalled that Rahul Gandhi's grandmother Indira Gandhi had got elected from Medak constituency in 1980. He said there was industrial development in Medak because of her. "She represented the constituency until her last breath when she was assassinated in 1984," he reminded.
Revanth urged voters to elect Congress nominee Neelam Madhu and defeat BRS and BJP who have had a grip on the constituency for two decades.