Modi agreed to caste census out of fear: Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi was speaking at the varsity's Ambedkar Hostel, where permission for holding the event had been denied by the administration, evoking outrage from the Congress which rejected the suggestion that the programme be held at an alternative venue.

Patna: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the Narendra Modi government, despite its earlier reluctance, eventually decided to hold a nationwide caste census “out of fear.” “The pressure mounted by the Congress-led Opposition forced the Modi government to agree for a countrywide caste census,” said Rahul during his one-day visit to Bihar.

“We still have three main demands from the government. First, hold a fair caste census throughout the country (just like the one done by the Congress government in Telangana). Secondly, release the budgetary allocation meant for the welfare of the SC, STs students. Third, besides removing the cap of 50 per cent reservation, please ensure reservation in the private educational institutions too,” said Rahul, before interacting with the Dalit students at the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga.

The standoff

Incidentally, the Darbhanga district administration denied Rahul the permission to meet the students on the campus saying the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha can hold his meet at the Town Hall, instead of the university hostel.

Eventually, when Rahul arrived, his convoy was stopped by the local administration with the top cops informing the former Congress president he had no permission to hold a meeting on the hostel campus. However, Rahul stuck to his guns.

Once denied permission, he got down from the car and took a circuitous route on foot to meet the students in the hostel where he addressed the charged-up gathering.

“We are living in a democracy, which is run by the Constitution. This is not a dictatorship where the ‘NDA double-engine cheater government’ can dictate us and prevent me from meeting you all. If I am raising the voice for you all, it's precisely because you (80 per cent of the suppressed class) transfer your energy to me,” said Rahul, while blasting Nitish and Modi government for leaking examination papers during competitive exams. “Once we form the government, we will stem the rot, so that the students do not suffer for years due to paper leak,” he added.

Watched 'Phule'

After returning from Darbhanga, Rahul visited a shopping mall in Patna and watched the movie ‘Phule’, based on the life of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, along with the select audience. “Nice movie,” quipped Rahul before leaving for Patna airport enroute New Delhi.

This was Rahul Gandhi’s fourth visit to Bihar in the last five months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now slated to visit the State and address a rally in Rohtas on May 30. Notably, Bihar will have an Assembly election this October and November for the 243-member House.