Nagpur: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi kicked off his campaign in Maharashtra, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, from Nagpur on November 6, 2024, once again reaffirming his commitment to caste census. He asserted that the 50% limit on reservation will go if voted to power, giving the Party its main talking point for the elections. Soon after arrival, he visited Deekshabhoomi, the historic site where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, embraced Buddhism in 1956. Thereafter, Shri Gandhi addressed the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan, organised by the OBC Youth Rights Forum, in Reshambaugh.

At the forum, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the caste census is a step towards justice and equality, and that the exercise will show the injustice meted out to Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis. He said - as the RSS and BJP cannot attack the Constitution from the front, they hide behind words like ‘development’, ‘progress’ and ‘patriotism’ to carry out their agenda of inequality that ensure benefits to a few individuals at the cost of the vast majority of people.

“Caste census is just a name. The real meaning of it is nyaya (justice),” said Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi, who has been highlighting the need over the last few months. “When I talk about caste census, Modiji says that I am dividing the nation. But I am amplifying only a feeble voice from the deprived masses. I have heard the voice which says 90% of the population gets no benefit from the country’s resources. Only a caste census can give justice to this 90% deprived population of India,” he said.

The gathering was attended by members of around 200 civil society organisations, NGOs and social bodies that work for equal rights among people, along with Congress workers and prominent Party leaders from Maharashtra.

He emphasised that through the Constitution, “Dr Ambedkar embodied the need for the voices and pain of millions to resonate within its pages”. He underscored that the Constitution drafted by Baba Saheb Ambedkar is not merely a document, but a framework for life. “When individuals from the RSS and BJP attack the Constitution, they are undermining the voice of the country,” he alleged.

He also accused the BJP and RSS of scrambling to find a way out of the caste census issue, claiming they are reluctant to support it because they favour concentrating wealth and power among the top 5% of the population. He then raised questions about RSS’ financial resources, and asked, “From where does the RSS get money to maintain its extensive facilities and run institutions like Shishu Mandirs and Eklavya Vidyalayas and etc?”

The Congress leader continued, “You won’t find a single Dalit, OBC, or Adivasi in the Adani Group’s management. `16 lakh crore in debt relief is given to 25 industrialists, but when I push for farmers’ loan waivers, I’m criticised for promoting dependency.”

He also underscored the disparity in the treatment of debt-ridden farmers, compared to corporate defaulters, arguing that small farmers often face criminal charges for unpaid loans, while large defaulters with corporate connections are celebrated as “patriots” and receive state backing.

“Farmers are shamed as defaulters, yet those with private jets and unpaid loans are labelled as drivers of development,” Shri Gandhi said, calling the double standard “unjust and unacceptable.”

MVA promises ₹3,000 per month to women

Mumbai: The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi on November 6, 2024, announced five guarantees, two among them pertaining to welfare schemes benefiting women, weeks ahead of polling for the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) promised a monthly cash benefit of 3,000 and free bus service to women under the Mahalakshmi Yojana. Addressing the MVA rally in Mumbai, Shri Rahul Gandhi also promised a loan waiver of up to3 lakh to farmers in addition to an incentive of 50,000 on loan repayment. The alliance also promised health insurance up to25 lakh and free medicines. Shri Rahul Gandhi guaranteed monthly unemployment wages amounting to `4,000 for jobless youth, a caste census in the State and removing the 50% ceiling on reservation.

Currently, the ruling Mahayuti gives 1,500 per month to eligible women under its flagship ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme and has promised to increase the amount to2,100 if it retained power. Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi also made a promise to conduct a caste census in Maharashtra if elected to power at the Centre and remove 50% cap on reservations. “The current politics in India is based on creating hatred among people based on the ideologies of RSS and BJP. The Mahayuti has only harmed the development of the State, created unemployment. India has the largest number of unemployment right now. It is all because of the Prime Minister and BJP’s policies that have destroyed the small and micro scale businesses. Gautam Adani can snatch Dharavi’s land but cannot create employment. Demonetisation and inflation are not policies but weapons by the BJP. This is a fight for ideologies,” he said.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP (SP) Chief Shri Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Shri Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri Nana Patole, Congress leader Smt. Varsha Gaikwad, Shiv Sena (UBT) Shri Sanjay Raut were among other Party functionaries of the alliance partners who were present at the meeting. Shiv Sena (UBT) President Shri Uddhav Thackeray said the grand alliance will ensure that the prices of essential commodities such as edible oil, sugar, rice, wheat, daal will remain stable under the MVA government.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge also announced to provide a health insurance cover of Rs. 25 Lakh to each family in the state.

Jharkhand

INDIA bloc protecting the Constitution while BJP-RSS wants to destroy it, says Shri Rahul Gandhi

Simdega: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi in his first public meeting in Jharkhand for the Assembly election, slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to “snatch the land, forest and water” of tribals. He also accused the BJP of destroying the Indian Constitution, while promising to protect the rights of the tribals. Shri Rahul Gandhi addressed two public meetings on November 8, 2024, in support of INDIA bloc candidates in the Simdega and Lohardaga Assembly seats. In Simdega, he said, “We call you adivasi, but BJP calls you vanvasi forest-dwellers. The British also called you vanvasi, then Birsa Munda ji fought against the British to protect your water, forest and land. Today, we are also fighting for your rights. The BJP wants to snatch your water, forest and land, that is why it calls you vanvasi. The word adivasi means having first rights over the country whereas vanvasi means that you have no rights in the country. But you are adivasis and have first rights over the land,” he said. Shri Rahul Gandhi said the word “vanvasi” doesn’t appear in the Constitution and those who framed the Constitution also used the word “adivasi” instead because they wanted to convey that they are the real owners of water, forest and land.

He added that there was a battle between two ideologies in the country. On one side stands the INDIA bloc which wants to protect the Constitution and on the other side are the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), wanting to destroy the Constitution. “The Constitution is not just a book. It contains the thoughts of Birsa Munda, Ambedkar, Phule and Mahatma Gandhi. This Constitution protects the tribals, Dalits, backward people and the poor people. Therefore, the INDIA bloc wants the country to be run through the Constitution,” Shri Gandhi said. He said that the BJP turns brothers against each other, religions against other religions, and languages against other languages. Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that Manipur has been burning for so many days, but the Prime Minister is yet to go there, because the violence spread due to his own ideology. He claimed that there is no participation of Dalits, backward classes and tribals in the country despite them being capable of doing great work. In Lohardaga, he reiterated that the Constitution is the protector of cultural values and gives the freedom to live independently and fearlessly with self-respect, adding that the Congress will protect the Constitution “at all costs”.

Talking about the joint Manifesto of the INDIA bloc, Shri Gandhi said that its seven guarantees in Jharkhand will empower every resident including the Dalits, tribals, backward classes and women. “BJP wants to snatch the rights of the people of Jharkhand and especially the tribals. We will not let its plans succeed at any cost. We will protect water, forests and land and together we will stop those who want to destroy the Constitution,” Shri Gandhi said. He alleged that Mr. Modi waived off debts worth `16 lakh crore of a few billionaires.

We have made up our mind to enrich the marginalised people: Shri Rahul Gandhi

Baghamara: Reiterating his promise of “khata-khat” (instant) transfer of Rs. 2,500 monthly allowance to women, Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on November 9, 2024, said that the next INDIA bloc government in Jharkhand will restore the pride of tribals and also lift the 50 per cent cap on caste-based quota. Addressing an election rally in Baghamara in Jharkhand, Shri Gandhi slammed BJP for neglecting tribals and said that its government works only for businessmen and does not waive loans of farmers, workers and labourers.

Describing joblessness and inflation as the two big problems of youths and women, Shri Gandhi said that the faulty provisions of GST have further added to the burden of people. He said that GST is a system for fleecing the poor and the BJP government has created this system which taxes the poor and the rich people at the same rate. Shri Rahul Gandhi claimed that the INDIA bloc was the true partner of the poor and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not care for them. “PM Modi never embraces or goes to homes of Dalits, farmers, OBCs but hobnobs only with business tycoons,” said Shri Rahul Gandhi. He added that the INDIA bloc was committed to a caste census during the tenure of the current Lok Sabha and assured Jharkhand voters that the 50 per cent cap on caste-based reservation would soon be removed.

The Congress leader also described the caste census as the key to social justice and fair participation of the marginalised sections in the country’s decision-making process. “Only caste census can usher in revolutionary politics,” he said. Seeking votes for the INDIA bloc parties in the upcoming Assembly elections, he announced several schemes including a Rs. 2,500 monthly financial assistance for women, a hike in MSP for paddy from Rs. 2,400 per quintal to Rs. 3,200 per quintal and 200 units of free electricity. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also guaranteed to voters that cooking gas cylinders would be provided to them for Rs. 450 each, along with seven kg ration per person every month. Assuring to creation of 10 lakh jobs for youths, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the INDIA bloc government would also open degree colleges in each block and professional college in each district of Jharkhand, along with a 500-acre industrial park. “We have made up our mind to enrich the marginalised people by as much money as the BJP gives to businessmen,” he said. Expressing confidence that the INDIA bloc would win the next Lok Sabha election, Shri Gandhi said that their government would restore the prosperity of the poor, including workers, farmers, labourers and small shopkeepers.

Constitution is book of love, BJP & RSS covertly destroying it: Shri Rahul Gandhi

Gondia/Nagpur: Congress MP Shri Rahul Gandhi accused BJP and RSS of covertly destroying constitutional values and, in the process, insulting the philosophy of Lord Buddha and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which he said is ingrained in the Constitution. Addressing a rally at Gondia on November 12, 2024, Shri Rahul Gandhi claimed that BJP, led by PM Narendra Modi, insulted OBCs and other marginalized groups by not giving them proportional representation in policy making, making caste census essential. Raising the red-covered book, now a staple at his rallies, Shri Rahul Gandhi said, "This is a battle for the Constitution. It's a battle to defeat hatred with love. This is a book of love." To exemplify his oft-repeated accusation of ‘Constitution being destroyed’ with Maharashtra politics, He questioned, "Does the Constitution say you must steal a govt? That's what BJP is doing. When they gave crores to Maharashtra MLAs, they did so behind closed doors. They are slowly destroying the Constitution. Because if their plan ever becomes public, then voters won't spare them." He added - PM Narendra Modi criticizes him for carrying the book at rallies. Shri Gandhi said, "The PM is constantly attacking this Constitution book; last time, he said that it's red-coloured. But this book is not just something which came after Independence. It contains thoughts and philosophies of Lord Buddha, Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. And yet, this book is being insulted by them (BJP)." Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also criticized GST system, calling it ‘Unfair’. "Billionaires pay the same amount of GST for a shirt or footwear as a poor farmer does. And this GST is taken by the Centre. It's an insult to our Dalits, tribals, and OBCs. We will give all this money back to the people," he declared. Alleging a nexus between BJP and big corporates, Shri Gandhi expressed concern over privatization. "Earlier, we had public sector entities where marginalized groups had representation, but now everything is being sold. Ports, airports, and Dharavi land, all gone," he said.

‘Five lakh jobs snatched from Maharashtra, big projects shifted to Gujarat’: Shri Rahul Gandhi

Nandurbar: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on November 14, 2024, alleged that five lakh jobs from Maharashtra have been snatched as various big projects have been shifted to other states. Addressing a rally in Nandurbar, the former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi said, “The Maharashtra government sends your projects, which provide employment to Maharashtra, to other states and your people go to other states to work as labourers. Let me give you an example, the semi-conductor plant of Vedanta and Foxconn, which would have given employment to 10,000 youth of Maharashtra, is a plant worth Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, they snatched it from Maharashtra and sent it to Gujarat. The manufacturing unit of Tata Airbus, which would have given employment to 10,000 youth, is a project worth Rs. 1.8 lakh crore, the Maharashtra government sent it to Gujarat. The iPhone manufacturing plant, a plant worth Rs. 2 lakh crores, would have given employment to 75 lakh youth, they snatched it from Maharashtra and sent it to Gujarat. The drug park, which would have given employment to 80,000 people, was snatched and sent to Gujarat. The GAIL petrochemical project, a project worth Rs. 60,000 crores, would have given employment to 21,000 youth, they snatched it from you and sent it to another state. He also said, “If we add all the jobs, then the BJP government has taken away five lakh jobs from Maharashtra and sent them to other states. That is why you do not get employment here, that is why you have been made unemployed here. The All-India Alliance and Congress Party government will not do this. Maharashtra's projects will remain in Maharashtra, Gujarat's projects will remain in Gujarat. We do not want that all your projects are taken away from here and sent to other states and tribal youth go and become bonded labourers in Gujarat or in other states.” “We want you to get employment in Maharashtra, proper employment, respectable employment, that is why we are contesting elections, that is why we want to form our government here,” he said.

Jharkhand

After caste census, Dalits, tribals, poor will recognise their true strength: Shri Rahul Gandhi

Godda: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and MP Shri Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Meharma, Godda district, Jharkhand, on November 15, 2024, declared that the day a caste census is conducted, it will transform the country's political landscape and promised to increase reservation for STs, SCs and OBCs. He asserted that after the caste census, Dalits, tribals, Backward Classes, and the poor would recognise their true strength, which would kick-start a new era in Indian politics. Shri Rahul Gandhi emphasised that even if the BJP continues to reject the demand for a caste census, the Congress Party will continue pushing for it. "Once we have the true numbers of Dalits, tribals, and Backward Classes, we will remove the 50 per cent reservation ceiling," he said. Shri Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of reducing the reservation for Backward Classes in Jharkhand from 27 to 14 per cent and promised that under a Congress-led government, reservation would be increased for STs from 26 per cent to 28 per cent, SCs from 10 per cent to 12 per cent, and OBCs from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. Describing the elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra as a battle of ideologies, not just for political power, Shri Rahul Gandhi claimed that the BJP and RSS were attempting to undermine the Constitution, while the Congress and the INDIA bloc were fighting to uphold it. Training guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he quipped, "Modi ji says that Rahul Gandhi is showing a 'Lal Kitab (Red Book)' and its pages are blank. He says this because he hasn't read it. If he had, he wouldn't be spreading hatred and violence in the country." Shri Rahul Gandhi also highlighted the stark under-representation of marginalised communities in the top echelons of the bureaucracy.