Mumbai, Nov 18: In a major announcement ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pledged to remove the 50% cap on reservations and ensure the conduct of a comprehensive caste census across India. Addressing the media at a press conference in Mumbai, Gandhi emphasized that the caste census would be a central priority for the Congress, calling it “the biggest issue before us” and a key component of the party’s vision for a more inclusive India.
“The caste census is the foundation of our commitment to social justice, and we will ensure that it is carried out,” Gandhi stated. He further affirmed that Congress would work to remove the 50% cap on reservations, which he argued limits opportunities for marginalized communities to access education and employment.
Gandhi also spoke out against what he described as the BJP’s economic policies that favor a small group of billionaires over the people of Maharashtra. In particular, he criticized the diversion of major industrial projects, including Rs 7 lakh crore worth of investments from companies like Foxconn and Airbus, from Maharashtra to Gujarat, resulting in significant job losses for the state’s youth.
“Projects worth billions of rupees were shifted from Maharashtra, depriving the state’s youth of employment opportunities. While Gujarat benefits, the people of Maharashtra are left behind,” Gandhi remarked, underscoring the need for a government that prioritizes the interests of the people over corporate interests. He assured that under a Congress-led government, Maharashtra’s resources and future would be protected and developed for the benefit of its citizens.
In a further critique of the current government, Gandhi alleged that the ongoing Dharavi redevelopment project in Mumbai was a scheme designed to benefit one individual: industrialist Gautam Adani. He accused the BJP of manipulating political processes to ensure that Adani gained control of the redevelopment, which he claimed would result in the loss of Mumbai’s wealth and resources.
At the press conference, Gandhi made a symbolic gesture by pulling out a safe, revealing two posters—one showing Prime Minister Modi and Adani together, and another depicting a map of the Adani Group’s Dharavi project. “They are safe as long as they are together,” Gandhi quipped, highlighting the alleged cozy relationship between the BJP and Adani. He further criticized the lack of transparency in the Dharavi redevelopment process, questioning how one individual could gain control of the country’s ports, airports, and wealth.
“The Dharavi redevelopment project is designed to benefit only one person, not the people of Mumbai or Dharavi,” Gandhi said. “The BJP is giving away India’s wealth to a few powerful individuals while the common people are left to suffer.”
Gandhi also pointed to the broader economic agenda of the BJP, accusing the party of pursuing policies that cater to the interests of a select group of billionaires at the expense of the people. “The BJP’s focus on serving the wealthiest individuals has hurt the people of Maharashtra and the country,” he said.