Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi described the BJP’s delimitation plans as a “shameful” attempt to change India’s electoral map and alleged that the NDA government is trying to ensure that caste census has nothing to do with representation in the next 15 years.
Gandhi also questioned that while the BJP considers OBCs and Dalits to be Hindus in its politics, it does not want to give the two sections political representation.
In his speech, which also saw angry protests by the BJP and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh condemning Gandhi for his unparliamentary remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi asserted: “There is a women’s bill passed in 2023. This is an attempt to change the electoral map of India by using the women of India and hiding behind them. In fact it is a shameful act. Instead of giving women reservation, this is something else. And the truth must be told what this is the central truth of India’s history: brutal and cruel treatment Which is merciless to OBCs, Dalits, minorities and women, and this is a historical fact.
“You are telling South India, North-East and smaller states that in order to keep the BJP in power, we are depriving you of representation. This is nothing less than an anti-national act. The entire opposition will defeat this attempt to attack the nation-state. You will deprive OBC and Dalits of their rightful place in society. In corporate India, the entire financial structure where are the Dalits? In the higher bureaucracy, the judiciary and the private sector, where are the Dalits and Dalits? You have demolished the public sector and handed it over to your friends,” Gandhi said. You describe OBCs and Dalits as Hindus, but you do not give them any space in the power structure of this country.”
Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s intervention on Thursday, Gandhi said, “Amit Shah ji said, ‘The caste census has begun (and the houses have no castes). The important point is not whether the houses have castes or not. The important point is whether the caste census should be used for representation in the Vidhan Sabhas and the Lok Sabha. What you are trying to do now is to try to ensure that the caste census has nothing to do with representation in the next 15 elections.” Years.”
The LoP described women as a central force in “our national imagination, in our national perspective” and recalled his childhood and the lessons she learned from Indira Gandhi (his grandmother) and praised his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for making Shah smile during her speech.
Gandhi’s repeated attacks on the Prime Minister led to angry protests from the Treasury. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kirin Rijiju accused Gandhi of calling Balakot and Operation Sindoor “witchcraft”, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reminded the Parliament Party that “the words used by the Parliament Party in describing the Prime Minister are very unfortunate and should be condemned. The people of India made him Prime Minister and gave us a lot of power. He is not insulting a person, he is insulting the people of India. He should apologise.”
Rahul Gandhi responded to the BJP, saying, “There is a central confusion in the minds of the BJP and its leadership. They believe that they are the people of India. You are not the people of India! They also believe that they are the armed forces. You are not the armed forces! We are not attacking the people of India or the armed forces; we are attacking you.”
Gandhi argued that both Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not change the size of the Lok Sabha and claimed that the BJP was afraid. “The second thing is: Because you are afraid of what is happening in the country’s politics and the erosion of your power, you are trying to reorganize the political map of India. You did that in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam, and now you hope to do that in India.”
“You cannot tolerate the truth. I want to assure my friends, brothers and sisters across the country, do not worry. We will not allow them to attack the Union of India. You are equal participants in the Union of India. They will not dare to touch your representation in the Union of India,” Gandhi said.
“The BJP is not stupid. They clearly knew that this bill could not be passed. This was a panicked reaction because the Prime Minister wanted at all costs to send two messages – first, that he wanted to change the electoral map of India, and second, he needed to send this message again that he is pro-women,” Gandhi said.
