Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared that the party will undertake caste census in Telangana immediately after coming to power in the state for the empowerment of Backward Class (BCs), Dalit (SCs) and tribal (STs) communities.
Addressing a public meeting in Peddapalli on Thursday on the second day of Congress’ Vijayabheri bus yatra, Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for not willing to undertake the caste census despite a growing demand for it from these sections.
Speaking during the bus yatra, the Congress leader tried to strike an emotional chord with people of Telangana by recalling the Gandhi family's association with the people of Telangana.
"Yesterday I brought my sister Priyanka Gandhi along with me to Telangana. What I share with the people of Telangana is not a political bond but a family bond. My family's bond of love and affection with people of Telangana has been continuing since the era of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi," the Congress leader said.
He said the "Congress tsunami" will sweep Telangana in the upcoming Assembly polls and the BRS will disappear in it.
"As soon as the Congress comes to power in Telangana, we will undertake the caste census. The caste census will also be conducted at the national level, after the Congress comes to power at the Centre. The Prime Minister and the Telangana Chief Minister are afraid of conducting the caste-census because OBCs, SCs and STs will come to know the facts about whether the state and central government were spending funds in proportion to their population or not. That's why they are against the caste census," Rahul Gandhi alleged.
He reiterated that the Congress granted statehood to Telangana to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of people of Telangana on getting their due share in funds, water and jobs besides social justice despite knowing that Congress would face political consequences.
"But the BRS government in the last nine years has shattered their dreams and aspirations. KCR is ruling Telangana as if he is the king of the state. He looted the lands of the poor in the name of Dharani."
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP, BRS and the MIM were in a 'covert alliance' to defeat the Congress and called upon people of Telangana to teach a fitting lesson to these three parties in Assembly polls.
"KCR looted '1 lakh crore in the name of the Kaleshwaram project. He looted the lands of the poor. He indulged in heavy corruption. But there is not a single case or inquiry by CBI, I-T, ED against KCR. All the opposition leaders are being targeted by central investigation agencies. They filed 24 cases against me. But there is no case against KCR. This shows the covert alliance between BJP and BRS." he added.
He promised to implement six guarantees promised to people within 100 days of coming to power. "Whatever guarantees and promises we made to people in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, Congress governments have delivered. In the same way, Congress will fulfil the six guarantees in Telangana," he said.
