"Telangana caste survey is milestone for social justice, going to define how national caste census is done": Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): Emphasising the significance of English education for the backwards community of society, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the caste survey in Telangana is a milestone for social justice in the country and will define the national caste enumeration.

Addressing the Socio-Economic Survey Model and Methodology Presentation in the national capital, Gandhi said, Revanth Reddy and other leaders of the Congress party exceeded my expectations very easily. Not only did they conduct the Caste Census in the spirit that it should have been done... I can say with certainty that the level of competence with which they have done it is a milestone for social justice in the country. This is going to define how the national Caste Census is done, whether the BJP likes it or not.

He stated that the job of the Telangana government is to use the data of the caste census to transform the lives of the people of Telangana.

English education is very, very important, so Revanth Ji mentioned that he has successfully conducted the caste census and socioeconomic census. Now, what is our job? He has a job. His job is to use the data of the caste census to transform the lives of the people of Telangana. Our job is to make sure that every single person in India understands what has happened in Telangana. What has been done in Telangana, and how the government of India is trying to stop the progress of what is happening in Telangana, he further said.

He further reiterated removing the 50 per cent reservation mark in the education and job sectors and alleged that the government of India is not allowing it to happen in Telangana.

Why are they stopping it? We have said it clearly that we will break the 50 per cent wall of reservation. The government of Telangana has said in a note to the President of India that we want to break the 50 per cent barrier in education and government jobs, and we want to break the 50 per cent barrier in Panchayati Raj and the government of India is saying no and they are not allowing it. So our job is to raise it in parliament and help Revanth Reddy push the idea, push the breaking of this wall, and his job is to make sure that the people of Telangana benefit from the caste census, the Leader of Opposition said.

Notably, the Union government had announced that the caste-based enumeration will be a part of the next decadal census, which will be conducted in two phases and begin on October 1, 2026, for snow-bound regions, and March 1, 2027, for the rest of India.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi severely criticised ECI, warning the Election Commission that the opposition would not let them get away with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar.

I want to send a message to the Election Commission: If you think you are going to get away with it, if your officers think they are going to get away with it, you are mistaken. You are not going to get away with it, because we are going to come for you, the Lok Sabha LoP told reporters outside Parliament, just after the Lok Sabha was adjourned.

He accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of indulging in cheating during the voter list revision process in a Karnataka constituency.

Gandhi claimed to have 100 per cent proof of the alleged manipulation, which involves adding and deleting voters, but hasnt presented any evidence yet.

He alleged that thousands of new voters aged 50, 60, and 65 have been added to the list in a single constituency and eligible voters above 18 have been removed from the list.

Today we have 100 per cent proof of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka. When we decide to show it to you, it is 100 per cent proof. We just looked at one constituency and we found this. I am absolutely convinced that, constituency after constituency, this is the drama. Thousands of new votes, aged 50 or 60, or 65 (are there) in one constituency. Then voter deletion, people who are way above 18, he said.

Reiterating the claim that the poll panel is not fulfilling its duties, the Lok Sabha LoP added, I said this yesterday too; this is a very serious matter. The Election Commission is not functioning as the Election Commission of India. Today they made some statement; this is complete nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the Election Commission is not doing its job.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy interacted with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

He also met Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and discussed key details of the caste survey in the state. (ANI)

Disclaimer: This news article is a direct feed from ANI and has not been edited by the News Nation team. The news agency is solely responsible for its content.