Union Minister Ahwani Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday that the caste census will be included in the next national census exercise in a "transparent manner".
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00:00While India waited with bated breath on a big announcement coming in concerning the Pehalgaam attacks,
00:08the government took everybody by surprise by making a massive announcement, but not on Pehalgaam retaliation.
00:17The government has decided that caste census will take place along with the national census.
00:24The last caste census took place in pre-independence India in the year 1931.
00:49The last time a caste census was conducted was under the British in 1931.
00:57In 2011, under the socio-economic census, caste calculations were done but never made public.
01:04However, in India, most government policies and reservations are done on the basis of the caste metric.
01:11So, in effect, the government is operating blind, basing all reservations and policies on figures that are over 90 years old.
01:20The demand for a caste census blew up politically with the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,
01:28where the Congress raised the clarion call of Jitani Abadi Utna Haq.
01:34The aim was political, with many opposition parties of the opinion that the government is refusing to conduct a caste census,
01:42as it will reveal caste fault lines, which will not be politically favourable to the BJP.
01:49Rahul Gandhi, despite of the Congress's earlier stand against caste census, doubled down on the demand.
01:56The government, while making the announcement today, stressed on what they deemed has been Congress's double-speak.
02:17The Congress, though, was quick to take credit, stressing they have already conducted the caste survey in Telangana
02:41and already proposed a reservation based on it.
02:46Jairam Ramesh tweeted a letter from 2023 stating that the Congress President Malik Arjun Khadge then
02:53had requested the Prime Minister to conduct a caste survey immediately.
03:00While the move will have tectonic political implications,
03:03the state of Bihar going into elections in less than six months will feel its maximum political impact.
03:12The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted welcoming the move.
03:16The political minefield that this move exposes will require deft political maneuvering.
03:41Till now, the dream of Baba Sahib Ambedkar of a caste-less society has only but remained a dream and a mirage.
03:50The hard reality is that caste continues to play a huge role in governance and social equity and policy.
03:58And for that, will it be better to have real numbers or continue to operate blind?
04:04Top Focus on To The Point this evening.
04:06What's been happening in the last couple of hours?
04:10Because at about 4pm, you had Ashwini Vaishnav, who right in the end made this massive announcement.
04:15The Congress also now in an overdrive.
04:18There is a credit war of sorts where the BJP says that the Congress always had made a double speak
04:24where it came down to the caste census.
04:27On the other hand, the Congress very clear that right from the word go, from 2023, they have been asking for a caste census.
04:36So, claiming moral victory here.
04:39I want to cut across right now to my colleague Moshmi, who is joining us live from the Congress headquarter.
04:44Rahul Gandhi, Moshmi, I believe any moment is going to be conducting a press conference.
04:49The Congress is quick to take credit.
04:52What can we expect in that press conference today?
04:54You know, Preeti, the Congress has been caught unaware as far as, you know, this announcement is concerned.
05:05Little did any opposition party expect that after a very hyped meeting of the CCS, the Cabinet,
05:13this announcement would be doled out.
05:15And perhaps they failed to read between the lines when RSS chief met the Prime Minister yesterday.
05:24And that said, you know, the Congress would want to take the credit.
05:28But the question really is that has it stripped Rahul Gandhi of its prime agenda, this announcement?
05:34Because we've seen an umpteen number of election speeches, assembly elections to the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi, you know,
05:45trying to pitch the Congress as the, you know, poll bearer, the well-wisher of the OBC and the backward community.
05:52And this time round, you know, it's the main poll plank of Rahul Gandhi for some time now.
05:58So we will have to wait and see how the Congress actually reacts to that one.
06:03And, you know, interestingly, when Ashwini Vaishnav made that announcement, you wouldn't have missed that.
06:08He highlighted how the Congress had failed to bring in the cast census.
06:12Well, you're right there.
06:13You know, Moshmi, stay on with me.
06:14We're going to continue to cut across back to Moshmi at the Congress headquarters any time now.
06:17Rahul Gandhi would be addressing the press where the issue of cast census comes into play.
06:22We're going to cut across there.
06:23But first up, there are certain pertinent questions we asked this evening, viewers, at the back of the announcement that was made by Mr. Rashwini Vaishnav.
06:30Question number one, the cast census announcement with a clear eye on Bihar elections.
06:35The larger play here, clearly, yesterday you had Mr. Mohan Bhagwat who met with the Prime Minister.
06:40Many thought it was discussions on how India would retaliate where military is concerned and a tactical strategic retaliation.
06:48But it had apparently more to do with the cast census and Bihar elections are just in less than six months away.
06:56The other question we asked, if the government cave into opposition, cast census demand.
07:01The opposition is claiming moral victory, suggesting we have been speaking of a cast census, Jithni Abadi, Uthana Haqq since 2023.
07:09And this is a culmination of that.
07:12The government has caved under opposition pressure.
07:15On the other hand, has the opposition lost its biggest political agenda?
07:19In one clear strike, has the government stripped off the Congress, especially, of its biggest poll plank, which has been the cast census?
07:29And ultimately, viewers, the moot question, who takes credit for the cast census?
07:33Will it be the BJP or will it be the opposition parties?
07:37Let's take these questions to our panelists this evening.
07:40Joining me, Dr. Shama Mohammed, National Spokesperson, Congress.
07:43Dr. Rajay Alok, National Spokesperson, BJP.
07:47Dr. Alok is in the studio with me.
07:49We are expecting a press conference by Rahul Gandhi anytime, Dr. Alok.
07:52And we all know that the Congress will take credit because, you know, on the floor of the Parliament, outside, since 2023,
08:00you had Mr. Jairam Ramesh who tweeted out a letter by Malik Arjun Kargay suggesting,
08:04listen, we've been asking the Prime Minister to conduct the cast census.
08:08The Congress will have the country believe, Dr. Rajay Alok, that you have caved under opposition pressure and actually going ahead with the cast census.
08:17Do you think people of this country are so naive that they are going to believe Congress anymore on any of the issues?
08:25I say any of the issues, even it may be cast census.
08:29Now, I'll recall you certain facts.
08:322017, Rohini Commission was instituted.
08:36If you remember, 2023, the Rohini Commission report was submitted to the Honorable President and later cleared by the Union Cabinet.
08:44And it was accepted.
08:45Now, what was there in the Rohini Commission?
08:46To know the exact status of the OBC and EBC of this country.
08:50And the Rohini Commission clearly stated that for this doing, we have to have the cast census.
08:55And I've been saying it for the last two years.
08:57Since Rahul Gandhi picked up this issue in 2023,
09:00Jati Ajandgarna, Jati Ajandgarna.
09:02It was there in the agenda.
09:03Problem in this country and problem with the opposition is
09:06that when Prime Minister starts acting on the project,
09:12then also they don't know what is happening.
09:14Prime Minister started this work way back in 2017.
09:1723 was the culmination and 25 is going to be the execution.
09:21So where's the Congress?
09:22So let him live under the illusion.
09:24It's good enough.
09:25It suits us that Congress should always be an illusion of doing things.
09:30And it's nothing new.
09:31What they can't think, Prime Minister does it.
09:33You know, I'll ask you a quick question because you still have time.
09:36When are we looking at the cast census?
09:38Will it coincide with the national census number one?
09:40Yes, of course.
09:41And Dr. Rajya Alok, you know, one says that you'll have the cast census,
09:44but will the numbers be made public?
09:46Because we have a 2011 census, which, not a census, but a survey,
09:50but those numbers were never made public.
09:52If you see the statement made by Honorable Home Minister today,
09:55everything is going to be public.
09:56On September 24, 2024, September 18, 2024, if I remember the date exactly,
10:02he said that you will listen to the announcement.
10:06He then only declared last year itself that we are going to have censures
10:09and we are going to have cast censures and you will hear the announcement.
10:12And we are not the one who hides the number.
10:15You know why?
10:15Because then Congress did that cast survey or censures,
10:198.19 crore mistake was there.
10:21And their own ministers were opposing that let's not release the data.
10:25It's on the floor of the House, Mr. P. J. Damram said.
10:28On the name of caste censures, Congress has always fooled the public
10:33and the people of this country in the name of caste.
10:35They never did it.
10:37Historically, it's more important because in independent India,
10:39for the first time, the caste censures...
10:40Dr. Alok, your time is up, but, you know, I'm going to bring in Dr. Shamaa Mohamad.
10:43But before that, I want to just show you, you know,
10:46a bit of a graphical detail on what really India thinks.
10:49I'm going to pull out the Mood of the Nation survey
10:50that we conducted earlier this year.
10:52And the caste censures has been a big narrative for the opposition.
10:57And in that, clearly, if you look at it,
11:00it made political sense also for the government to say,
11:02we will conduct the caste censures, because look at the figures, viewers.
11:04Yes, you should have the caste censures dramatically jumped from 59% in 2024
11:10to 74% in August 2024, and then have stabilized in February 2024 at 69%.
11:17So 69% of those who polled for the Mood of the Nation survey
11:21believed that we needed to have the caste censures.
11:23I want to cut across back to Dr. Shamaa Mohamad,
11:25National Spokesperson Congress, Dr. Mohamad.
11:28At one end, yes, we've had the Congress double down
11:32on the demand of caste censures.
11:33I hardly remember a rally or a press conference
11:35where Rahul Gandhi hasn't touched on that.
11:37Having said that, suddenly, are you devoid and deride
11:41of any political agenda now to take on the government with
11:45because the caste censures is coming?
11:47What now?
11:48You know, I want to laugh when you say this,
11:51because you said the Congress is quick to take credit.
11:56I heard that sentence was lost.
11:57Let's understand my leader, Rahul Gandhi,
11:59has been at it for the last two years about caste censures.
12:03And when he says something, he does it.
12:05And also the Congress Party.
12:07Let's understand reservation in the 70s for the OVCs came from the Congress Party.
12:12And later on, of course, the Mandel Commission.
12:15But who executed it all over the country?
12:1727% for OVC reservation.
12:19It's the Congress Party.
12:21Congress governments in various states.
12:23Let's understand that.
12:232011, we did a caste census and we couldn't release it
12:28because by the time this new government was formed
12:30and also we had a coalition and we are not a brute majority.
12:34Now, he says, Ajay, look, there is this proposal or whatever,
12:39a study in 2017 itself.
12:42You had a brute majority.
12:44Why didn't you do the caste census then?
12:46Let me ask you that.
12:472019, Rajnath Singh says, oh, we will do the caste census.
12:52This, and did he do it?
12:54Did they do it?
12:55No, because this government is all about announcements.
12:59They don't do it.
13:00Why did they announce it right now when Pahalgam has happened?
13:03Because you have the Bihar elections coming in October.
13:06So this is another announcement.
13:08We have proved by doing it in Karnataka, the caste census,
13:12as well as Telangana.
13:14Both the states, Congress, who states have done it.
13:16Now, the Prime Minister of India comes back,
13:20cut short his visit from Saudi Arabia.
13:22Does he address the nation of Bahra?
13:24No.
13:25Does he, is he present when the all-party meet was there?
13:30No.
13:31Does he go and meet the injured in Kashmir?
13:35No.
13:36Prime Ministers and presidents all over the world,
13:39when such a heinous terrorist attack happens,
13:42they first go to that particular place,
13:44meet the injured, addresses the nation,
13:47attends the most important all-party meet.
13:49But what does the Prime Minister of India do?
13:51Run to Bihar for a rally for the elections, upcoming elections.
13:55Dr. Mohamed, I'll start to go back to you.
13:57Ma'am, your faders, Dom.
13:58We won't be able to hear you, but I'll come back to you.
14:00I want to bring in Dr. Ralok again.
14:01And as I bring in live visual from the Congress headquarters,
14:04Rahul Gandhi is there.
14:05There would be a certain amount of chair within the Congress,
14:10though apprehension because they were not expecting this announcement to be made.
14:13But trust Rahul Gandhi to come and say, we made this happen.
14:18But having said that, Dr. Ralok,
14:20the fact is the government was never really keen on holding the caste census.
14:24And I'll hark you back on various points from 2014.
14:27You have the Prime Minister who has always maintained that it should be,
14:30you know, merit where we've spoken about the EWS quota.
14:33And, you know, that should be the merit of, you know, a caste census in this country.
14:38So clearly there has been political pressure.
14:40You've seen it happen over the course.
14:4223, 2024, UP elections.
14:45All of that did lead up to this moment.
14:47And Bihar, you know, is coming.
14:49Priti, as I said in my opening statement, that this caste census was conceived way back in 2017.
14:58And it was firmly decided that this is going to happen in 23 when Rohini Commission report was accepted.
15:04There was no political pressure.
15:05Do you think Prime Minister Modi will tolerate any kind of pressure?
15:09His last 11 years of functioning, have you seen him taking any kind of pressure?
15:13And today I think the Congress Party has got derailed.
15:16We are talking of caste census.
15:18She is going to Kashmir.
15:18She is going to Bihar.
15:19She is doing everything.
15:20I think they are in a great depression.
15:23Like, seeing what is going to happen to their favorite friend, Pakistan and others,
15:29Congress Party seems to be in depression.
15:31All the kinds of language here and there and there and that.
15:34Simple logic.
15:35It's a simple phenomenon.
15:36What was Rohini Commission?
15:38This is for you viewers to understand.
15:40Please go and check Rohini Commission recommendation which is accepted by the government.
15:44It clearly says we have to have caste census.
15:46Without that, recommendation cannot be done.
15:48And it was accepted by the government way back in 23.
15:50Where is the question of pressure?
15:52The point was when it should happen.
15:55So now it has happened.
15:56We are going to conduct.
15:57And who stopped Congress being in 60 years in power?
16:01Who stopped Congress?
16:02She was telling about Telangana.
16:03What happens to Karnataka, madam?
16:05Why are you not releasing the data of Karnataka?
16:07Why does your chief minister say, no, if it is going to happen then we will have bloodshed?
16:12There is a tussle of war between your CM and the TCM over the caste census report in Karnataka.
16:16You never released it.
16:17The similar thing happened in Chhattis Ghat.
16:19You never released it.
16:20Why?
16:21You never released the data after spending 4,958 crores of this country in 2011.
16:26You never released the data.
16:28You are out to waste the resources of this country.
16:30Nothing else.
16:30And exploit the people of this country.
16:32You have done nothing.
16:32So please, we don't need advisors from you.
16:36We don't need lessons from you.
16:37We are doing our job.
16:39All right.
16:39You know, I'm going to come back to you.
16:41But I want you to reflect on this question on why there was a reluctance and possible reframing of the debate when it came down to the caste census by the BJP.
16:48The Prime Minister, Dr. Ralok, in multiple rallies, especially in 2024, and I remember one in Chhattisgarh, where he asserted that the poor have the right to the country's resources and caste should not be bought into it.
17:01And we do understand the caste census is only going to happen in terms of the government can finally frame policies on the latest numbers because we are working blind on numbers that are over 90 years old.
17:10Number one.
17:11Number two, you had the BJP president, J.P. Nadda, who suggested that it was the Congress's party's demand for a caste census, and that could divide the society and community.
17:21So there have been multiple, you know, points of views on that.
17:24And I'll come back to you.
17:25Just hold on to that thought.
17:26Two minutes to Dr. Shama Mohammed.
17:27Dr. Mohammed, the fact is, history stands testimony that the Congress was never in favor of the caste census.
17:33We can go back to the Rajiv Gandhi era.
17:34Even Rahul Gandhi earlier on was opposed to it.
17:37And understandably, it's something that the Congress has admitted that, yes, you know, you were in the wrong earlier and you've been wanting the caste census.
17:45And yes, as far as I can remember from 2022, the Congress has stood firm on the demand of a caste census.
17:52Rahul Gandhi has bought it up in practically every political rally.
17:56Having said that, 2015, Karnataka conducted their caste survey.
18:00It took them 10 years to actually, even now, the report is not public, Dr. Mohammed.
18:04Yes, Telangana has and they've even mooted reservations on the basis of that.
18:10The report is out.
18:11We have it.
18:12It's not that it's not been public or anything.
18:14The report is out.
18:15There's nothing to hide.
18:16Now, let me tell you one thing very clearly.
18:19Rahul Gandhi has, when he says something, he tells the states to do it and the states follow it.
18:24Now, he keeps coming.
18:25Ajay Alok keeps telling out here that, yes, there is a commission report that we have to do it.
18:30The prime minister has agreed.
18:32The prime minister could have done it in 2017.
18:33He had a brute majority.
18:35My question to Ajay Alok is, why the delay?
18:38When we say we are going to do something, we do it.
18:40And I know now the prime minister is doing it because he has pressure from Rahul Gandhi.
18:45And that is the biggest reason.
18:46Because Rahul Gandhi is very clear that he is going to go ahead with this in all the states.
18:50Wherever the Congress party is in power, in all the states, whether the Congress party is part.
18:55Also, states where we are not in power, we will do a caste census.
18:58But the question arises here, let me make it very clear, is why the prime minister of India has chosen today such a time when we have to reply back to Pakistan?
19:08It is purely because of Bihar election.
19:11Ajay Alok has not answered a very pertinent question just now.
19:15Why has the prime minister not gone and visited the injured in Kashmir, but could run to a rally and be with Nitesh Kumar?
19:22And also, the JDU has conducted a caste census in Bihar.
19:28And it has come out with a report in which more than 88% of the people who earn less than Rs.6,000 is coming from OBC, SC, ST.
19:39So, let's understand that.
19:41Who got in reservations for the Adivasis?
19:43Who got in the forest rights for the Adivasis?
19:46It's all the Congress party.
19:47So, Ajay Alok can say everything, but he is not answering the pertinent question why it could have not been done before.
19:53And RSS has always, always been against the caste census.
19:56We all know that from the 50s onwards, they've been against it.
19:59The Congress has proved that it has done a caste census in the 2000 level.
20:04And what more?
20:04And my leader, Rahul Gandhi, has been saying, like you said, Quinti, in every rally, everywhere he says, 90% of the people are...
20:13Ma'am, your time is up.
20:14I want to circle back.
20:15Ma'am, your fader is down.
20:16We won't be able to hear you.
20:17I'll circle back to Dr. Rajay Alok.
20:19And I gave you two examples, Dr. Alok.
20:21Let me give you another one.
20:22October 2023, and I would reckon it just followed the release of the Bihar's caste survey.
20:27And the Prime Minister then emphasized that the primary focus needed to be on the population that is poor,
20:34and a caste census would only help divide the society.
20:38He additionally, you know, criticized and questioned the Congress about two months after that,
20:44where he said that the Congress's approach of a caste census is against or looking towards dividing society on the lines of caste,
20:54and this will be detrimental to national unity.
20:57So, clearly, there was a reluctance.
20:58So, why, you know, would it be too much to say that this is political pressure?
21:02This is not at all a political pressure, and there was no reluctance.
21:06Now, let me tell you, when the Prime Minister says that talking about caste will only become divisive,
21:11he's not wrong, because what Congress does is dividing the caste.
21:14But you know why there is a caste census?
21:17There is, suppose there is a caste.
21:18That caste is availing all the benefit.
21:21But 10 of their sub-castes are not getting that benefit.
21:252,598 EBC communities are there who haven't availed the benefit of reservations still now.
21:32Where does this reservation goes?
21:35How do we make the policy for those who are still waiting in the last queue in the line?
21:42This caste census is going to happen to everyone.
21:44Everyone.
21:46Be it the sub-caste or be it the major caste.
21:48And then we are going to assess what benefits are to be given to whom
21:51and what benefits have been availed by whom for ages and decades.
21:55There are so many things in this caste census.
21:57It's not a simple thing.
21:58It's like the policy is going to be formulated according to that
22:01and policy is going to be implemented according to that.
22:04But there is one problem, Preeti, again.
22:06There are some people in the country.
22:08When we will go to them, we will ask, what is the caste?
22:11Nobody will come to know what is the caste.
22:13This is also a problem.
22:14For that we have to make some separate entity altogether.
22:18And by the way, questioning me...
22:20I don't understand that.
22:21I'm sorry, I'm coming.
22:21What does that mean?
22:23I mean, there are some people who claim themselves to be Hindu
22:26because caste census is going to be among Hindus and Muslims sub-caste also.
22:30But those who claim to be Hindu but they are not Hindu,
22:32how are we going to judge their caste?
22:33So that is a problem.
22:35Now, second thing.
22:36Very interestingly, she said Ajay Alok should answer why Prime Minister went to a rally.
22:40Ma'am, you are a Congress party, 125-year-old party with at least 60 years in power.
22:47Please differentiate between a government function and a rally.
22:51And that government function was used as a platform to deliver a message to the world
22:54that we are not going to let this terrorist grow and function.
22:57We are going to hit them hard.
22:59That was the stern message from the Prime Minister.
23:01And if you don't understand the stern message from the Prime Minister,
23:04that's because you are selective business.
23:05Sir, your time is up.
23:06Your fader is automatically going to go down.
23:07I'll bring in Dr. Shama Mohammed back into this conversation.
23:10Dr. Mohammed, from a larger point of view, let's go micro.
23:13Bihar elections less than six months ago.
23:15You know, six months away.
23:17You have the likes of Kanaiya Kumar who have been on this yatra,
23:20trying to attract the youth.
23:21And one of the biggest calling cards of that yatra has been caste censors.
23:26That has been taken away now.
23:28How can it be taken away?
23:30We are going to go ahead with, because we are saying we have done it.
23:34We have proven.
23:35We are going to tell them that on 2019, they talked about caste censors.
23:39Rajnath Singh said we are going to do it now.
23:41They did not do it.
23:42You know, it's like MSP.
23:44They went out and said, we will do 50 plus cost.
23:48Then Mukul Rautagi in 2015 tells the Supreme Court, we can't do it.
23:53You know, they said, we will waive farmer loans.
23:56Correct?
23:57Then Jayat Lee says in Parliament in 2017, we can't do it.
24:01So we know this party lies day in and day out.
24:03Now, Ajay Alok said the Prime Minister addressed from the rally.
24:07Why should he address from the rally?
24:08After 9-11, what did President Bush do?
24:11After 26-11, what did Manmohan Singh do?
24:14He addressed the nation.
24:15He immediately went there to where it's happening.
24:18That is how presidents and prime ministers function.
24:21You have to address the nation.
24:23There is no addressing the nation.
24:25Why do you have to go to a rally to address the nation?
24:26And most important, why has the Prime Minister of India not go to Pahalgan and visited the
24:31injured?
24:32I fail to understand.
24:33After 9-11 or 26-11, every Prime Minister, presidents all around the world visit them.
24:38The Prime Minister refuses to do his duty.
24:41And he also is not present, was not present at the all-party meet.
24:45So my question today is, suddenly, when we have this horrible thing which has happened,
24:50we are all upset about what has happened in Pahalgan.
24:53We want stern action against Pakistan.
24:56We are waiting for that.
24:57What is going to be done?
24:58And then you announce the caste census all of a sudden because the Bihar election is six months.
25:02So the Prime Minister is there and then we are thinking about Bihar election, Bihar rally,
25:06Bihar election, caste census.
25:08We have been, Rahul Gandhi has been telling all this continuously.
25:11Rahul Gandhi is visiting the injured, the family of the dead, the family of the injured.
25:16That's what my leader Rahul Gandhi is doing.
25:18And that is a true leader.
25:20I want to understand where is the empathy of the Prime Minister of India for not visiting the injured,
25:27for not visiting the people whose lives, whose kin's lives have gone.
25:33I don't understand.
25:33Ma'am, your faders down.
25:34We won't be able to hear you.
25:35I just want to circle back to the both of you and maybe let's, you know, focus back on what the debate is
25:40because I would think it's huge, this announcement that has happened.
25:44And this will have tectonic political implications, not just political but social as well
25:49because I would reckon now we'll have finally data on which we can actually build public policy,
25:55clear data, not 90-year-old data which we were working blind on.
25:58But Dr. Raji Alok, I'm going to bring you in two minutes there.
26:01But it is, you know, Dr. Mohammed's not very wrong.
26:05It's not that you didn't have the opportunity earlier.
26:07But you're doing this with a clear eye on Bihar elections because it is something that your allies,
26:14be it Mr. Nitish Kumar, you know, even the likes of Chirag Pashwan has been putting pressure on you
26:19to announce before the election because whether we like it or not, the poll and to pun on it in Bihar is caste.
26:24Well, Bihar already had a caste survey and it was initiated when we were in power with Nitish Kumar.
26:31Then only it was initiated.
26:33We took a delegation to the prime minister also.
26:35He nodded that, yes, states can have them.
26:37And Bihar did it and Bihar released the data also and Bihar is implementing the policy also.
26:41So where's the question of Bihar elections comes here?
26:44This is a national caste census along with caste, national census along with the caste censures,
26:50which is being done for the first time in the independent India.
26:53We are doing this with a particular motive.
26:56I mean, if you do anything, if you take any policy decision, what are your motives of doing that?
27:01Do you know that?
27:02Okay.
27:03So we know what we are going to do that, what we are going to achieve from that.
27:07Congress never knew when they did it in 2011 that what they're going to do with it.
27:10That's why there was 8.19 crores mistake, as mentioned by Mr. P. Chidambaram.
27:16Dr. Alok.
27:17Am I allowed to cut you short?
27:22Because you're going to cut into the press conference that is coming in from the Congress headquarters.
27:26We cut across to Rahul Gandhi.
27:27Listen in.
27:28Poor chap.
27:28Dr. Alok.
27:34We will cut across to Rahul Gandhi.
27:36We will cut across to Rahul Gandhi.
27:37I don't know what happened. Suddenly, after 11 years, Narendra Modi ji said that only four people are going to go. Suddenly, Cass Senses was announced.
27:56We support it. We support it. But we want a timeline. We want to know when it will happen. And this is one of the first steps.
28:12Telangana has made a model for Cass Senses. And it can become a blueprint. And we offer the whole government to design it.
28:29It is a complete promise that we will design it. Because the design is very necessary.
28:34Because there are two examples. One is the design of Bihar. The other is Telangana. It is the difference between the Earth and the Earth.
28:44And I want to remind myself that Cass Senses is the first step.
28:49Our vision is a new development and paradigm. We want to bring to Cass Senses.
28:58It is not only reservations, but we are asking the central question.
29:05Whether there are OBCs, Dalits, Adivasi, how many countries are in their country?
29:14The Cass Senses will be aware of the same way. But the Cass Senses has to go further.
29:21In our institutions, in our institutions, where are their participation?
29:28The power structure, which is the power structure, how many participation is there?
29:34This is the next step. And we want to bring to Cass Senses in this direction.
29:44We have said one other thing. Congress Party has raised it. It was also in the manifesto.
29:51Article 15.5. Article 15.5 is Reservation in Private Education Institutions.
29:59This is a law. It is already a law. And we want to implement this law by NDA and BJP.
30:11We have delayed the census. We have delayed the census. We have welcomed it.
30:20This is our vision. They have adopted it. It is very good.
30:24But we want to tell the dates. We want to tell the census.
30:27We want to tell the census. We want to tell the census in the budget.
30:33The budget is not in the budget.
30:35And then the development vision is our vision.
30:39We want to present it in front of us.
30:43So I wanted to say this in English.
30:46Now, caste census, we have been fighting now for some time. Government has opposed.
30:54For some reason, we don't understand what that reason is.
30:57They have suddenly decided to do it. We welcome that.
31:01We are happy that they have done the caste census.
31:06Telangana is a model state for the caste census.
31:10There are two caste censuses in front of us.
31:13One is Telangana, the other is Bihar.
31:16They are completely different caste censuses.
31:18The Telangana caste census, the questions have been developed by a process of consultation.
31:24Not a closed process, open closed process.
31:27By asking the stakeholders what are the type of questions.
31:30And it has been a very detailed, very granular exercise.
31:33We would like the national census to follow some of the ideas of the Telangana census.
31:37And we are more than happy to help the government develop the national census on similar lines.
31:46We have had two other issues that we have discussed which are also central.
31:52Which is the 50% cap on reservations.
31:55Now this is becoming an impediment to development, to progress of our country.
32:01And to the progress of backward castes, Dalits and Adivasis.
32:06And we want this 50% barrier to be eliminated and broken.
32:10We have stated that.
32:12We have achieved, we have put enough pressure on the government to get the caste census done.
32:16We want a date by when it is done.
32:18We are going to put pressure on the government to make sure that 50% cap is destroyed.
32:23And after that there is a third thing which is the article 15.5.
32:26Which is reservation in private educational institutions.
32:31It is already a law.
32:32We want that law to be implemented as soon as possible.
32:35So that is broadly the structure.
32:37We see the caste census as a new paradigm of development.
32:42And we want to go beyond the caste census.
32:44We want to understand what is the participation of 90% of our population in the power structure
32:52of our country.
32:53Where are they participating effectively?
32:56And where are they not participating?
32:59And we want to give them participation and access to power.
33:03So we are absolutely convinced in the Congress party that the caste census is a first step
33:09of a completely new development paradigm in the country.
33:12And we are going to push this paradigm through one way or the other.
33:15It does not matter what the BJP thinks.
33:17We have shown that we can pressure the BJP into doing the caste census.
33:21We are going to show you that we are going to pressure the BJP into doing 15.5 and also removing the 50% cap.
33:28I think every Congress member, every Congress worker, every single person who has fought for the caste census,
33:37and there are millions of people, activists from the backward communities, Dalits, Adivasis, I am very proud of what you have done.
33:45This would not be possible without the effort, without the hard work that you have done.
33:49It has been a sustained campaign that we have run and I am very proud of every single person who has helped us in this campaign.
33:58Sir, you said that the government was opposed to this and suddenly decided to take this step.
34:09Do you think that this decision has been taken in light of the upcoming Bihar polls?
34:14No, I don't think so. I don't think that's why this decision has been taken in a hurry.
34:24I don't need to comment on whether they took it, when they took it, how they took it.
34:28Now they have taken it. We are happy they have taken it. Now this needs to be taken forward.
34:33Sir, the Prime Minister said that there are only four parties in the country.
34:40What do you think that you have done with the Vipaksh and you have not done it?
34:46It's not done it. We have done it in an organized way.
34:52We have done a campaign on the grassroots level.
34:56We have done a campaign on the grassroots level.
34:58We have done a campaign on the grassroots level.
35:01We have done a campaign on the grassroots level.
35:04We have done a campaign on the grassroots level.
35:06And so we have done a decision on the grassroots level.
35:09But the caste census, as I have told you,
35:13this is the way to open the doors.
35:18After that, the real work of the Vipaksh has started.
35:24Once we get information, then we can take action on the basis of that information.
35:31I will give you two-three steps.
35:33In Telangana, the caste census,
35:38what granularity is coming from it and what type of information is coming from it.
35:43In Telangana, the corporate structure,
35:48CEOs, management team, senior management, ownership structure.
35:58In that you will not get one Dalit,
36:01one Adivasi,
36:03one last year's work.
36:05I am saying that one will not get one.
36:07I am not saying that one will not get one percent.
36:10No.
36:11Ninety percent of India is not represented there.
36:14First.
36:15Second.
36:16Gig workers,
36:17where we have created a law in Telangana and now in Karnatak.
36:22If you look at the list of gig workers,
36:25which I call modern slavery,
36:28you will get only OBC, Dalit and Adivasi.
36:33So, these two streams are being made.
36:38One stream is the same.
36:40The stream is the same.
36:41The stream is the same.
36:43The stream is the same.
36:44The stream is the same.
36:45The stream is the same.
36:46In Dalit, Adivasi,
36:47and the other stream is the same.
36:49In which one small elite control its own system.
36:52All of them are sitting on it.
36:54Adani and Ambani are sitting on it.
36:56So this caste census is the foundation of changing this thing, it's the first step.
37:04Rahul Ji, Rahul Ji, you were making a mistake, but in the past 11 years, the Prime Minister Modi did not accept it.
37:11Now, the first time has been so big, do you think that the timing of the Prime Minister's caste census is the timing of the caste census?
37:18You are journalists, this is your work, your work is speculation.
37:26My work is not speculation, I work on facts, so you speculate.
37:31I don't want to speculate on it, I don't need to speculate on it.
37:36Why did they take it or why did they take it? I don't have any interest.
37:39And this is a big step.
37:44I just want to understand when will the census be? And what will the census be?
37:51Which question will it be? Because you can say that we have done the census.
37:56And then if you didn't ask relevant questions, then it doesn't mean it.
38:02So we want a people's census. We don't want a bureaucrat census.
38:17Bureaucrat census.
38:18Sir, you said earlier that there was an X-ray.
38:24So the government has signed up for the X-ray.
38:26What is the X-ray?
38:27Now we are talking about Telangana model.
38:29Does Telangana model adopt?
38:32There are two-three principles in Telangana model.
38:37The first principle is that 5-10 bureaucrats have not designed it in closed cameras.
38:45Okay?
38:46Because frankly, I'll say frankly,
38:49that we are trying to help the communities
38:53that we are trying to help the communities.
38:55They are not in hold of bureaucracy.
38:58So we want mass census,
39:02open technology census,
39:06where we ask the stakeholders
39:10what you are actually in design.
39:16What are you thinking about the design?
39:17This is Telangana's first principle.
39:19Second principle in Telangana is that
39:25we have set up an expert group
39:29who is now going to study all the data
39:32and is going to present to the government of Telangana
39:36a vision based on caste census.
39:39So that is the second step.
39:41And third step as you are already aware,
39:43Telangana has demolished that wall of 50%.
39:48Right?
39:49And also the 15-5, article 15-5
39:53which I have mentioned.
39:55I think that my immediate suspicion is
40:05that this is a women's will strategy,
40:08a timeline.
40:09But I hope that better sense prevails.
40:12Sir Raul Ji, thank you.
40:14Okay.
40:16No, I want to say one other thing which is,
40:22frankly, it is very important.
40:25And today this is probably more important than caste census.
40:31I went to Kanpur today.
40:34And the victims of terrorism there,
40:39I talked about it,
40:40I talked about it,
40:41I talked about it,
40:42I talked about it,
40:43cold-blooded,
40:45under-blooded,
40:46by the way violent,
40:48poor-blooded,
40:49I talked about it,
40:50without mercy.
40:56And,
40:57again,
40:5828 people go this way,
41:00and many Americans are hungry,
41:04and many people are hungry.
41:05I don't want to comment on how it happened, but I just want to say that those people have
41:17done this, those who are, where they are, they have to pay for this and they have to
41:32pay for it properly, not in some half-hearted way, they have to pay for it properly so that
41:41they have to remember that this cannot be done with Hindustan. We have clearly given a line
41:54unanimous line that what happened is not acceptable. And the whole opposition, 100% support
42:13will be given to the government and will be given to the government.
42:20Narendra Modi has an action to take action.
42:30And the whole opposition is standing with them. Those who have done this, they have to pay the price for this.
42:45The people who are, they have given me through a message. Actually, Pradhan Mantri Ji, they have told me that you
42:56tell me that you tell me that you tell me that you tell me that you tell me that I tell me that 28 people are
43:02are the same. And we tell me that the people who are the same. And we tell them that our children, they were
43:12are the same. We want to give them the same and respect. That was how I wanted to say.
43:19Thank you very much. Thank you.
43:23we are saying i am saying i am saying i am saying that 28 people have been killed in
43:36cold blood ok it is pretty clear who is responsible for this the people who are responsible for
43:47this must pay a price the prime minister has to take action right and the action has to
43:57be clear and it has to be strong without any confusion the prime minister must not dilly
44:06dally must not waste time must make it very clear that india is not going to tolerate
44:13this type of nonsense so he needs to act that is what i am saying he can act he can act
44:22in whatever time frame he thinks necessary but he has to act soon i think i think you heard
44:34what i said i think you heard what i said i said let me speak let me speak i am not advocating
44:41anything i am being very clear the people who have done this need to pay a price ok and
44:46the prime minister has to act on it now firmly he should not dilly dally he should not be
44:53in a confused state thank you thank you
45:01here's at the back of the phil gum terror attack there's been certain amounts of misplaced anger
45:05across india where it's been went out on certain muslim youth and kashmiri students studying across
45:10india a very disturbing incident has come to light from uttar pradesh's aligarh where a fifteen year old
45:16boy a fifteen year old muslim boy was assaulted and humiliated by a group of men uh who first
45:23assaulted him and then asked him to urinate on a pakistan flag according to the reports the boy
45:30allegedly picked up a pakistan flag lying on the road which reportedly had pakistan murdabad written
45:36in it the flag is believed to have been placed there by right-wing groups this act by the boy led to
45:41this massive altercation where the boy was beaten up and then made to urinate on the flag
45:46meanwhile in another incident of kashmiri students and kashmiris being attacked across the country
46:06uh a video went viral on social media of course uh showing this minor boy of course you know let's
46:13move on to the latest that is coming in this time uh from uh uttar khan massuri after terrorists snuffed
46:19out 26 innocent lives in phil gum there was rage amongst indians but some of the miscreants are
46:25venting out anger on like i mentioned innocent kashmiris in an incident in massuri goons attacked
46:31kashmiri shawl sellers amidst outrage over phil gum terror attack in this wild viral video the
46:38attackers can be seen slapping and abusing the shawl vendors asking them to pack up and leave the
46:44attackers are local residents after the video went viral on social media police launched a manhunt and
46:51three miscreants were napped however they were later released by the police after they issued a written
46:57apology in the aftermath of that there are about 20 shawl sellers in massuri who are all kashmiris and
47:04they have fled the area misplaced anger once again i want to cut across because ramifications also
47:11being felt back in kashmir uh where kashmiri students and the youth a little scared and there
47:19was a sense of fear when it comes down to facing these attacks across the country my colleague mir farid
47:24spoke to some young kashmiris how do you first tell me with this incident this is a heinous act of
47:34terror i have not seen it before in my consciousness uh highly condemnable and uh i think we kashmiris
47:43kashmiris itself healing you know rehabilitating and recovering from its past trauma and whatever
47:49happened it should not have happened no kashmiri wants this you have seen for the very first time
47:55kashmiris have come out on roads to condemn this because they have gained that consciousness and
48:02conscience that we don't want this this is not us we also want to flourish we also want to make our
48:09name big in our nation also globally so this is not we want so this is a clear message from kashmir that
48:17we will agree this is i mean the kind of peace we always see it's uh so fragile i mean one incident
48:23and everything is gone so is this something that kashmir will always have to live with
48:29i as a kashmir i don't want to live with it that uh peace which is uh you know something the basic
48:37priority of life and that is so much uh fragile in kashmir i don't want to have a peace like this
48:42i want a full-fledged peace in kashmir how do you see the mood of youngsters because you would be
48:48speaking to so many your posts are liked and responded to by many so what's the mood of the
48:53jennix extremely hurt extremely hurt and feeling very emotional actually after a long long time
49:02a young kashmiri was brimming with a lot of positivity and he was seeing a lot of hope
49:09he had started to plan and plan for the betterment but whatever happened in pahalgaam
49:16it will always be remembered as the most ugliest chapter in kashmir
49:21you