Rahul Gandhi on Saturday announced that a countrywide caste census would be conducted if “we come to power” after the general election, while his party continued to humour INDIA ally Mamata Banerjee who has been sniping at the Congress.
The new government would address the “problems of all sections”, Rahul told a rally in Godda a day after his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Jharkhand via Pakur district on Friday evening.
“We have seen how people’s land was taken away fraudulently with false promises of jobs and electricity. We will try to solve the problems of all sections,” he said.
“If we come to power, we will conduct a caste census immediately so that social justice is delivered to each section.”
Rajya Sabha member and Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc would jointly fight the BJP and that “seat-sharing issues will be sorted out after talks with all parties”.
Asked about Mamata’s announcement in Calcutta about the Trinamul Congress going it alone in Bengal, Ramesh said the chief minister felt “hurt” over some issues.
“Mamata Banerjee is a strong and crucial pillar of the INDIA alliance and talks are going on with her regarding seat sharing. Hopefully, a conclusion will be reached soon,” he said.
“Everyone will have to defeat the BJP unitedly. We understand that she is hurt over something but we have also heard that she has stated that she is strongly with the INDIA alliance.”
Ramesh stressed that the INDIA coalition had been formed for the general election — its immediate priority being to fight the Narendra Modi government — and that the partners could compete against each other in Assembly polls.
He said seat talks were on with all the partners and a joint announcement of seat shares would be made soon.
Ghulam Mir, Congress minder for Bengal and Jharkhand, said the party had formed a five-member team led by Mukul Wasnik to sort out seat issues.
Rahul said the Yatra was a journey for justice for women, the youth, farmers, labourers and the backward classes, and against the injustices of the 10 years of the Modi government.
“Back-breaking inflation has not only made life difficult for the people; on top of that the demonetisation and the flawed GST have taken away employment opportunities from the youth,” he said.
“This unemployment and inflation are injustices to the people. The Centre waives off the huge loans taken by big industrialists but not the loans of the farmers. We will keep fighting until the injustice being done to the people ends.”
Later in the day, as the Yatra entered Deoghar, Rahul performed puja at Babadham. The Yatra reached Jamtara in the evening.