Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed caste census an "X-ray" of the country that will throw light on the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals, and said his party would force the Centre to conduct this exercise "come what may."

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not speaking on the issue of caste census.

"We will force the central government to conduct a caste census, come what may, to know the truth about the condition of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the country. Our governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have initiated a process for it," Gandhi said.

He was addressing a public meeting at Beohari in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, a day after the dates for the state assembly polls were announced.

"Caste census is an X-ray of the country. Tribals, Dalits and OBCs of the country are injured. Let us check...It will clear the picture," he said.

"We challenged PM Narendra Modi to release the data of the caste census done by Congress. But instead of talking about it, he talks about Pakistan, Afghanistan and South. Speak on caste census," the former Congress president added.

Referring to a book written by Bharatiya Janata Party's veteran leader L K Advani, Gandhi said the book mentioned that Madhya Pradesh, not Gujarat, was the laboratory of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevan Sangh (RSS).

"But Madhya Pradesh is a laboratory of several scams like medical treatment to deceased persons, Vyapam, mid-day meal, atrocities against tribals and women, among others," he targeted the BJP government in the state.

The single-phase assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17.

Rahul Gandhi targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party saying three farmers die by suicide in Madhya Pradesh every day in "BJP's laboratory." Addressing a public rally in MP's tribal district Shahdol, the Congress leader said, "(Lal Krishna) Advani wrote a book in which he stated that the original laboratory of BJP-RSS is not in Gujarat, but Madhya Pradesh. In BJP's laboratory, deceased are being treated and their money is being stolen."

Alleging the BJP government of Vyapam scam, Rahul said that future of one crore youth has been runied and 40 people killed.

"MBBS seats are sold and Rs 15 lakh has to be given to become a registrar, but they (BJP) don't stop there. In BJP's laboratory, 18,000 farmers have died by suicide in 18 years," he said.

"In BJP's laboratory, their leaders urinate on adivasis. This is what Advani meant when he said that BJP-RSS laboratory will be built in Madhya Pradesh, he added.

He promised that if came to power, the first thing the party will do is to conduct caste census.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, and former MP Chief Minister Digvijay Singh was also present at the event.

This is the first rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi after the announcement of the poll schedule for the five assembly states by the election commission.

Madhya Pradesh will be voting on November 17, while the results would be announced on December 3.

The mega rally by the party is aimed at regaining its lost political ground in Vindhya region where the party had won only six of the 30 Assembly seats in 2018.

It will be Gandhi's second public rally in the poll-bound state, the first being in Shajapur district on September 30.

Besides, he would hold a meeting with the senior party leaders. According to a Congress leader, more than one lakh people are expected to attend the Beohari rally.

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