Rahul Heaps Praise on Revanth for BC Survey

Hyderabad: AICC senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, on Thursday heaped praise on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for conducting the caste census in what he described as a “meticulous and fool-proof” manner.

Speaking at an event held at Indira Bhavan, the AICC headquarters in Delhi, where the Chief Minister gave a presentation on the caste census, Rahul Gandhi said that Revanth Reddy and his team had not only met but far exceeded his expectations. He termed the Telangana caste census a potential blueprint for a national exercise.

Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy showcased the comprehensive methodology adopted by Telangana in carrying out the caste census. This included a 56-question questionnaire, consultations with various stakeholders and a transparent data-gathering process.

Rahul Gandhi applauded the initiative, calling it a “milestone for social justice” and a model that should define the contours of the upcoming national caste census.

"Revanth Reddy ji and the Telangana Congress team have done an outstanding job. They have demonstrated that a caste census, when done in the right spirit and with sincerity, can become a transformative tool for governance," Rahul Gandhi said, adding, "This is not just a state-level exercise, this is now going to shape the national conversation — whether the BJP likes it or not."

The event marked the first time Rahul Gandhi, after assuming his role as the LoP, publicly and strongly praised the Chief Minister at a national platform.

Reflecting on initial apprehensions he had due to Revanth Reddy’s community background, Rahul Gandhi admitted that he was uncertain whether an OC leader could carry out a caste survey that gives prominence to OBCs and marginalised groups. "But Revanth did it — and did it remarkably well. Convincing his community and doing justice to the larger cause makes this achievement even more significant," he noted.

Rahul Gandhi also underscored the inclusive process followed by the Telangana government, contrasting it with top-down bureaucratic exercises. "A caste census cannot happen behind closed doors of bureaucracy. Telangana has set a new benchmark by involving people, civil society, and experts at every step," he said.

He promised that the Congress would take up the findings of the Telangana caste census to fight in Parliament for an increase in reservations, break the 50 per cent overall reservations barrier, arguing that the BJP-led Centre had no intention of addressing the realities of caste-based disparities. "The BJP fears revealing the truth about India’s social fabric," Rahul Gandhi charged, accusing the Centre of ideological rigidity and lack of political will.

In a lighter vein but with a pointed message, Rahul Gandhi also touched on the power of data, saying, “Even if you ask Bill Gates or Donald Trump, they’ll agree — data is power. And Telangana now holds it with caste census data which no other state has. The Telangana government can now utilise this data to uplift any caste or community that are lying backward.”

He also made a strong pitch for English-medium education, calling it essential for empowering marginalised communities. “Ask BJP leaders what language their children study in. Their answer will definitely be English. Why should Dalit and Adivasi children be denied the same access. I am not saying Hindi or any regional language is not important. They should also be taught. But English should be next to them,” he asked.