Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reiterated his resolve to conduct a caste census and remove the 50 per cent cap on reservation while accusing the BJP of attempting to “destroy tribal history, heritage and traditions”.

Holding a copy of the Constitution during his half-an-hour speech at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Ranchi, the Congress MP said his party would break the 50 per cent reservation barrier in the country and ensure caste census, which he described as a “social X-ray”.

“There will be a caste census, which is like a social X-ray. There will be an institutional survey. The 50 per cent reservation limit will be removed. The Congress party will get this work done,” the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

Rahul stressed the importance of a caste census as a means for social evaluation while claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was opposed to this initiative. He noted the under-representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the lack of Dalits and tribals in key government positions, saying: “Only three OBCs are among top 90 IAS officers in bureaucracy; no Dalits, tribals in the finance ministry.”

He also claimed that unemployment and inflation had increased and the backward classes were the worst sufferers.

Referring to the Lok Sabha election results that saw the BJP go below the majority mark, Rahul said: “The country told Narendra Modi that we will not allow any attack on the thinking of Birsa Munda ji, Guru Nanak Dev ji, Narayan Guru ji, Basavanna ji, Lord Buddha ji and Phule ji.”

He accused the BJP of attempting to “destroy tribals’ heritage, history, tradition and medical practices”, asserting that Modi’s promises to respect Dalits, tribals and backward classes are contradicted by actions that strip them of their rights.

“Modi says that he will respect Dalits, tribals and backward classes, but then takes away their rights. He gives you respect, but expels you from institutions,” Rahul claimed.

He slammed the BJP leaders’ treatment of indigenous communities, specifically the use of the term “Vanvasi” (forest dwellers) in place of “Adivasi”.

“When the BJP calls ‘Adivasi’ ‘Vanvasi’, what are they trying to do? They are trying to erase your history, philosophy, science, medical science and lifestyle. ‘Adivasi’ means those who came first, whereas ‘Vanvasi’ means those who live in forests,” he said.

Rahul claimed that the country’s education system failed to teach about indigenous people. “The history of tribals, farmers, OBCs is destroyed,” he said.

He said the Constitution was under attack and needed protection. “The BJP may control funds and institutions; we possess truth,” he claimed.

“The BJP has money, institutions, the media, CBI, ED, IT — everything. But we have truth. We need nothing more. Because as long as we have truth, we will get justice,” he added.