Priyanka Gandhi reaffirms Congress promise on caste survey, assures ST status for Kadugolla community

Priyanka Gandhi reaffirms Congress promise on caste survey, assures ST status for Kadugolla community

CHITRADURGA: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said that her party is committed to conduct caste survey if it is elected to power at Centre and Kadugolla community in Karnataka will be included among Scheduled Tribes (ST).

Addressing a rally in Karnataka’s Chitradurga, she said that the Congress will passs a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs.

“For Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and OBC like my brother (Rahul Gandhi) says everywhere, a complete count will be done in the entire country as to who belongs to which caste and how much is their population and who is earning how much and then new policies will be made under that. Reservation limit will be increased from 50 per cent and the SC, ST sub-plan will be implemented. Special budget will be issued for SC, ST, and Kadugolla community will be given ST status,” she said.

People belonging to Kadugolla community are found in 38 taluks of 11 districts, in 1,264 hamlets called ‘hattis’, cut away from villages as ‘islands’, with either minimum basic amenities or none. Their population is estimated to be about 5 to 6 lakh in Karnataka. In Andhra Pradesh, they are found only in Rayadurga, Kalyandurga and Madakasira taluks.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that “the biggest leader of the country has given up morality, does drama before people and does not walk on the path of truth.”

“I want to explain to you in-depth what is happening in our country today. There are two different realities in the country today. One reality is inflation, unemployment is increasing and the other reality which you see on TV, where you see our Prime Minister, who tells you with all his fame and glory that this country is progressing rapidly,” the Congress leader said.

She alleged that attempts are on to weaken the opposition by suppressing their voice, seizing bank accounts and jailing two chief ministers.

“There was a time when a leader would stand up, and people of the country expected him to be an ethical person. They would expect morality from him but today ‘the biggest leader’ of the country has given up morality and does drama before you,” the Congress leader alleged.

“The biggest leader of the nation goes out to show off his clout, his pride, and his fame but does not walk on the path of truth.”

Speaking about electoral bonds scheme which has been termed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the Congress leader alleged that companies that were raided gave donations to BJP, and then the cases against them were closed.

“PM Modi brought a scheme – electoral bonds. Under this scheme, anyone who would fund a political party, his or her name would not be disclosed. However, the Supreme Court said that this scheme would lead to an increase in corruption, and the names of those who have funded a political party should be disclosed. It is now clear how the black money was made white through demonetisation and then it was deposited in BJP’s account. How the companies that were unable to earn even Rs 100 crore, donated Rs 1,100 crore to the BJP (under the electoral bond scheme),” she alleged.

Lok Sabha elections for 28 seats in Karnataka will take place over two phases, with polling slated for April 26 and May 7. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

In 2019, BJP won 25 out of the 28 seats on its own.

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