I cannot lie, Congress has not done what it should have done for Dalits: Rahul Gandhi
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Rahul Gandhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has raised questions on the Congress party itself and has given rise to a big debate. He has said that the Congress party has not been able to do the work for Dalits for the last 10-15 years which it should have done.
Written By Tahir Kamran
Rahul Gandhi On Dalits: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday that in the last 10-15 years, the Congress has not done enough work for Dalits and backward classes. He said that he has no hesitation in admitting that the party is not capable of maintaining the trust shown by the deprived classes during the time of his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
I will not lie to you…
Addressing a conference of influential people and intellectuals of Dalits, Gandhi said on Thursday that a new phase of liberation of Dalits and backward classes is starting to take shape. I can say that Congress has not done what it should have done in the last 10-15 years. If I don’t say this… then I will be lying to you and I don’t like lying. This is the truth. If the Congress party had maintained the confidence of Dalits, backward and extremely backward classes, then RSS would never have come to power.’
Confidence is declining
Rahul Gandhi further said, ‘During Indira Gandhi’s time, complete confidence (of Dalits and backward classes) was maintained. Dalits, tribals, minorities, extremely backward classes knew that Indira Gandhi would fight and die for them, but since the 1990s, confidence is declining and I can see it.’ Rahul Gandhi said that his confession of this truth may harm him but he is not afraid of the reaction.
Revolution needed in Congress
Meanwhile, someone from the crowd shouted the name of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, indicating that confidence had decreased during his tenure. To this, Gandhi replied, “I will not take names, but this is the reality and the Congress party has to accept the reality.” To counter this, Gandhi said the Congress will have to bring about an internal revolution in the party.
Difference between representation and participation
Gandhi then claimed that there are no opportunities for Dalits and OBCs in the current structure, which he alleged has been captured by the BJP and the RSS. He said that the underprivileged classes need power and not just representation. He said, “They need a share in institutions, educational institutions, corporate India and the judiciary. There is a lot of difference between sharing power and representation.”
The party, which has been struggling to win elections, has lost three consecutive Lok Sabha elections and is now limited to power in just three states. Gandhi has been trying hard to build a Muslim-Dalit-OBC support base for some time now. He is trying to make a place in the minds of the people again by raising his voice against the politics of hatred and polarization through the demand for Mohabbat Ki Dukan, caste census and removal of 50 percent cap on reservation.
Courtesy : Hindi News