Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday criticised the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for their promise to conduct a "caste census," accusing them of using the issue as a ploy to manipulate voters for political gain. Speaking at a rally in Jharkhand’s Mahagama, Singh challenged the Congress to come up with a concrete plan for distributing reservation benefits among the numerous castes and sub-castes in the country.
"In 2011, a socio-economic caste census was conducted, which revealed the presence of around 46 lakh castes, sub-castes, and gotras. According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, there are about 1,200 Scheduled Castes (SC), over 750 Scheduled Tribes (ST), and around 2,500 Other Backward Classes (OBCs). How will Congress manage the distribution of reservation quotas among all these groups?" Singh asked.
Singh addressing the rally in Mahagama. said that today is the day of Guru Parv, Lord Birsa Munda's birth anniversary and Jharkhand state's foundation day. Today there is no need to tell how much respect BJP and our leaders have for the tribal society. Lord Birsa Munda's struggle will always inspire the youth of the country. For the first time in the history of independent India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to celebrate Lord Birsa Munda's birth anniversary as Tribal Pride Day across the country.
The defence minister said that the people of Jharkhand have seen 13 Chief Ministers, out of which three Chief Ministers had to go to jail. But there have been 3 Chief Ministers of BJP, who have never been accused of corruption. He said that it has become clear from the first phase of polling that the BJP-NDA government is going to be formed in the state.
Targeting the Indi alliance, he said that serious allegations of corruption have been levelled against all three - Congress-RJD-RJD. The defence minister said that JMM means to make a lot of money. In whichever state Congress has contested elections in alliance with any party, it has been ruined. In Jharkhand, JMM-Congress-RJD have indulged in massive corruption. He said that Hemant Soren removed Champai Soren from the post of Chief Minister in greed for power, so that he could indulge in massive corruption. The condition of the state is such that money is taken even for death certificates. Prime Minister Modi launched a campaign to provide tap water to every house, but the Hemant government started taking money even for tap water.
Raising questions on the Hemant government, the Defence Minister said that where is the promise of giving unemployment allowance to the youth made before the elections? Congress says that as soon as our government is formed, caste census will be conducted and reservation will be given on that basis. I want to tell the Congress that politics should not be done to form a government, but to build a country. Regarding Mandal Murmu, he said that he joined BJP because JMM's boat was about to sink.
Appealing to the people, he said that form such a government which has no corruption stain on its hands and should not let it get stained. If there is any clean party not only in India but also abroad, it is the Bharatiya Janata Party. Today, when India speaks on international platforms, the world listens with open ears. This time BJP-NDA government is going to be formed in Jharkhand.
