Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday acknowledged that failing to conduct a caste census earlier was his personal mistake. Speaking at the ‘Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan’ organised for the OBC community at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, Gandhi pledged to rectify the error by pushing for caste-based surveys in all Congress-ruled states.
Reflecting on his 21-year political journey, Gandhi said he had delivered justice in areas such as MGNREGA, the land acquisition law, the food security bill, and tribal rights. However, he admitted he had not done enough for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
मैंने ठान लिया है कि देश की उत्पादक शक्ति को सम्मान और हिस्सेदारी दिलाकर रहूंगा। जो काम OBC वर्ग के लिए अबतक नहीं कर पाया, उसे दोगुनी स्पीड से करूंगा। pic.twitter.com/qoNlG2k5As
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 25, 2025
“It is not the Congress party’s mistake. It is my mistake that I didn’t push for a caste census earlier. I regret it, and I am going to correct it now,” Gandhi told the audience.
He hailed the Telangana caste census as a turning point and predicted it would cause a “political earthquake” across the country. Gandhi said the timing was now ideal, as such an exercise could be undertaken with greater depth than in the past.
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Rahul Gandhi also launched a strong critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “all show and no substance”. He claimed the media had exaggerated Modi’s image and added, “You have given him too much importance. He is not a problem. After meeting him, I realised there is nothing.”
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He urged OBC youth to understand their true strength and identity, alleging that the RSS had been trying to erase their history for thousands of years. He said once the OBC community realised its power, it would recognise the RSS as its biggest enemy.
Gandhi said Congress would not only carry out caste censuses in its states but would also work to remove the 50% reservation cap. He stressed the importance of data in today’s age and referred to the Telangana survey to illustrate poor representation of SC, ST, and OBC communities in top corporate jobs, compared to their overrepresentation in low-wage employment, including gig work and MGNREGA.
Describing OBCs as the country’s productive power, he said they were responsible for food production, infrastructure development, and essential services, yet remained underrepresented in positions of influence. “If you build the country with your blood, sweat and hard work, what does the country give you in return?” he asked.
Several senior Congress leaders including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, Sachin Pilot, and Anil JaiHind were present at the event.
