Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made a significant and introspective statement regarding the OBC (Other Backward Classes) community on Friday (July 25, 2025).
New Delhi: Politics has heated up following the statement made by Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, concerning the OBC (Other Backward Classes) community. His recent statement of acceptance has drawn sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Rahul Gandhi admitted that the interests of the OBC community were not protected to the desired extent during the Congress's tenure in power. He also stated that not conducting a caste census was a political mistake on his part, which he now wishes to rectify.
What did Rahul Gandhi say?
Rahul Gandhi said at an event on Friday, "I have been in politics since 2004 and have completed 21 years. When I look back and introspect, it feels that the problems of the OBC community were not given sufficient priority during the Congress government. If I had realized the seriousness of your issues then, I would have conducted a caste census at that time. This was my mistake, which I now want to correct."
BJP's Retort: 'Rahul Understands Very Late'
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sharply criticized Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Rahul Gandhi always understands very late. He apologized for the Emergency, then for the Sikh riots. Now he is also apologizing to the OBC community. The Congress never gave the OBCs their due, but rather worked to suppress them. He makes mistakes on every issue and then apologizes after ten years."
The BJP also alleged that Rahul Gandhi's statement is merely an election strategy and an attempt to mislead the OBC community. The party highlighted the lack of work done for the OBCs during the Congress's past regime.
BRS's Kavitha's Strong Statement: 'Just an Apology is Not Enough'
BRS leader K. Kavitha also termed Rahul Gandhi's apology a "political drama." She said, "Rahul Gandhi apologized to the country yesterday that he could not conduct a caste census of OBCs during the Congress's rule. But for most of the 75 years, it was the Congress that was in power. Is just an apology enough for the millions of students who have been deprived of reservation or opportunity?"
Kavitha further issued an open challenge to Rahul, saying: "If you are really honest, then make public the OBC census data that took place in Telangana. If there is an error in them, then give us a chance to correct them. We will campaign against you, including in Bihar, and across the country and expose the truth."
Political Significance of Caste Census
The demand for a caste census has become a highly sensitive political issue in recent years. Opposition parties believe that it can provide justice and real representation to marginalized sections, while some political parties consider it an issue that weakens the social fabric. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the issue of caste census remained a major electoral issue in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. In such a situation, Rahul Gandhi's statement is being seen as a step taken keeping in mind the upcoming elections.
