Patna, Apr 7 — In a fiery speech at the Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan in Patna, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pledged to tear down what he called the “fake barrier” of the 50% quota cap on reservations, vowing stronger representation for Dalits and OBCs if Congress comes to power.
Speaking as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi used the global stock market crash as an entry point to criticize the NDA-led Bihar government.
He pointed out that less than 1% of Biharis are invested in the stock market, saying this shows the economy is disconnected from the lives of ordinary citizens in the state.
“The US President’s policies may have shaken global markets, but people here have been spared — not because of safety, but because of exclusion,” Gandhi remarked.
He described the stock market as a place of “unlimited money-making” that remains inaccessible to common people.
Rahul emphasized that this financial disconnect is symbolic of larger systemic inequality in the country.
Alleging the institutional marginalization of weaker sections, he stated, “People from backward and Dalit communities are still treated as second-class citizens.”
The Congress scion declared that his party will implement a caste census if voted to power, which he called an “X-ray of India” to ensure fair policy benefits.
He invoked Dalit icons and national leaders to back his stance.
“Ambedkar ji, Phule ji, and Gandhiji taught us to speak truth to power. This truth is in our blood, and no one can erase it,” he asserted.
Taking a swipe at PM Modi, Rahul quipped, “That’s why Gandhiji’s book is called ‘My Experiments with Truth’, not ‘My Experiments with Lies’, which Modi ji might write.”
Highlighting the challenges of speaking the truth in today’s India, he said, “Even the biggest leaders are afraid, but we must be brave.”
The event marked the launch of a much-publicized padayatra, led by Rahul Gandhi and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar, beginning in Begusarai.
Thousands of youth, many wearing white T-shirts as requested in Rahul’s video message on X (formerly Twitter), joined the march.
In the video, the Raebareli MP urged Bihar’s youth to unite against unemployment and lack of opportunities.
“Our aim is to spotlight the crisis — job scarcity, migration, and hollow privatization promises. Let’s pressurize the state government to bring change,” he said.
The padayatra drew massive crowds and energized Congress’s youth base in the state, with scenes of sloganeering and street mobilization.
Congress’s campaign is clearly designed to build momentum ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, set for October or November.
The last election, held in 2020, saw the NDA narrowly retain power amidst growing discontent.
This year, with all 243 constituencies up for grabs, Congress is betting on ground-level mobilization and social justice messaging to regain political traction.
The focus on caste census, youth employment, and quota expansion indicates a return to Mandal-era politics with a 2025 twist.
Observers believe the “X-ray of India” phrase could become a central campaign slogan for the Congress in Bihar and beyond.
Kanhaiya Kumar, speaking at the march, added, “This is not just a walk, it’s a movement for dignity and fairness.”
Rahul’s emphasis on Ambedkarite and Gandhian thought was not just rhetorical — it underlined Congress’s attempt to reclaim lost ideological ground.
The Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan also served as a counter-narrative to the Modi government’s narrative on development and nationalism.
Whether this will resonate with voters across castes and regions remains to be seen.
Still, the Congress has made its intent clear: aggressive outreach, unapologetic social justice rhetoric, and youth engagement are back at the center of its Bihar strategy.
With political temperatures rising and the election battle heating up, Rahul Gandhi’s latest pitch could shape the debate in the months to come.
