Fri Mar 21 14:08:50 UTC 2025: ## BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi Over Caste Census Push
**NEW DELHI** – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday, criticizing his continued advocacy for a nationwide caste census. The attack followed Gandhi’s assertion that such a census is crucial to expose inequality and discrimination in India.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma dismissed Gandhi’s call, drawing a contrast between the perceived harmony of the Kumbh Mela and the divisive nature of caste politics. Sharma claimed that discussions of caste were absent at the religious gathering, implying that Gandhi’s focus on the issue was politically motivated and irrelevant. He further suggested that Gandhi’s repeated calls for the census demonstrate his political weakness following the Congress party’s electoral defeat.
Gandhi, in a recent video discussion with former University Grants Commission chairman Sukhdeo Thorat, reiterated the importance of the census as a tool to reveal the truth about inequality. He linked his advocacy to the Mahad Satyagraha, led by B.R. Ambedkar in 1927, highlighting its significance in the ongoing struggle for Dalit rights. Gandhi argued that the current merit-based system is inherently biased against Dalits, OBCs, and tribals due to its upper-caste origins and cultural disconnect from marginalized communities. He characterized the system as a “completely flawed concept of merit” that conflates social position with capability. The Congress had previously pledged to conduct a caste census if elected to power. The BJP’s response underscores the significant political divide surrounding this contentious issue.
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