Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday promised that if her party retained power in Chhattisgarh, it will undertake a caste census and also provide 10 lakh 'pucca' houses for the homeless.
Gandhi, speaking at a government programme in Kanker district in Bastar region, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was weakening farmers and strengthening the rich.
She also accused Modi of buying two planes worth Rs 8,000 crore for himself and making buildings to enhance his ‘aan baan shaan’.
“They (BJP) want the country’s assets to be handed over to their corporate friends and then divert those (assets/money) through them to the party. Their only aim is to remain in power and not the welfare of people,” Gandhi said.
“The BJP government is for the rich and has no vision for the poor and the middle class. Be it old pension scheme or caste census, they try to distract your attention by talking about religion or some other things you are emotionally connected to”, she said. “If we come back to power, like in Bihar, we will conduct a caste census here too. Did you see the figures of caste census in Bihar? About 84 per cent are OBCs, SCs and STs. But they are not seen in the top posts in government government. Is it not their right? Then why can’t there be a caste census? Whenever we talk about your rights, the BJP remains silent and distracts you,” she said.
Gandhi said Modi’s ‘neeyat’ (intention) was evident, alleging that he was not initiating schemes for the poor and farmers.