'Congress Wants To End Reservation': Rahul Gandhi's Caste Comments In US Draw Huge Political Backlash

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on caste and India’s quota system at an event in the US drew flak from different corners of the political spectrum on Tuesday, the latest in a series of controversies involving his statements abroad that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says are against national interests.

Speaking to students at Georgetown University on Monday, Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reiterated his demand for a caste census and said the Congress party wanted to know the socio-economic position of lower castes in India. He also said the Congress party would think of scrapping reservations when India becomes a “fair place”, which is not the case right now.

Back home, both these arguments were shredded by his political opponents. While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati alleged that Congress itself had done nothing for lower castes despite being in power for decades, the BJP said the Congress leader’s comments came out of frustration. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ram Vilas)’s Chirag Paswan, a BJP ally that is a key constituent in the Centre’s ruling coalition, said Gandhi’s statements had exposed the Congress’ mindset, and stressed that even thinking of ending the quota system was an anti-constitutional move.

Taking to social media platform X over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, BSP’s Mayawati said, “The Congress party did not implement OBC reservation while being in power for a long time at the Centre. Now the party is dreaming of coming to power using the issue. Beware of this drama of theirs. They will never be able to conduct caste census in the future.”

Beware of Congress’ Drama, Conspiracies: Mayawati

“Now be cautious of this drama of the supreme leader of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, in which he has said when India is in a better condition, his party will end the reservation of for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBCs). This makes it clear that Congress has been conspiring to end their reservation for years,” she added.

Rahul’s Remarks Exposed Congress’ Mindset: Chirag Paswan

LJP Chief Chirag Paswan said Raul Gandhi’s statements had exposed Congress’ mindset, stressing that even thinking of ending the quota system was an anti-constitutional move.

He, too, took to X and wrote, “Rahul Gandhi ji, let alone ending reservation, even thinking about it is a crime! Today, Rahul Gandhi’s statement has exposed the mindset of the Congress party. Congress wants, and it has been one of their priorities, to end the reservation given by Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Reservation is necessary to continue the constitutional system smoothly. In such a situation, let alone ending the reservation, no one can even think of tampering with that provision.”

“The issue of reservation is an election slogan of Congress, from which we all need to be cautious. Despite being in power for a long time at the Centre, Congress could neither conduct a caste census nor implement OBC reservation. It is clear from this that the thinking of Congress has been anti-reservation from the beginning,” he added.

Rahul Defaming India Abroad Out of Frustration: BJP

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statements in the United States and said “spoiling the image” of the country on foreign soil in such a manner was an “anti-national” act.

Several over leaders from the BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also shared similar views.

‘Will Think Of Scrapping Quota When India Is A Fair Place’: Rahul

“We will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place. And India is not a fair place,” Gandhi told students at the university in US in response to a question on reservation and how long it would continue.

“When you look at the financial numbers, then tribals get 10 paise out of 100 rupees; Dalits get 5 rupees out of 100 rupees, and OBCs get a similar number. The fact of the matter is that they’re not getting participation,” Gandhi said.

He said, “The caste census is now an unstoppable idea. The critical question of whether 90% of our population is meaningfully represented in India’s institutional structure – economy, government, education – demands an answer. At its core, this is an issue of fairness and justice. Anything less than a comprehensive caste census, along with an economic and institutional survey is unacceptable.” “That’s the problem. Now, it (reservation) is not the only tool. There are other tools,” he said.