Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s biggest opposition Congress party, on Monday (Feb 5) promised a nationwide caste census and removal of 50 per cent cap on reservations if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the upcoming general elections. India’s major opposition parties have formed the bloc in an attempt to challenge incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third time in office.

<h2>Gandhi’s big promise</h2>

Gandhi made the promise while addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Ranchi. He said Dalits, tribals, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) were made “bonded labourers” and they were not fairly represented in major corporations, big companies, schools and hospitals.

"This is the biggest question before India. Our first step would be to get a caste census in the country,” Gandhi said. He added that the current regime doesn’t allow the total reservation to go beyond the 50 per cent mark, before going on to make the radical promise to remove the cap altogether.

Watch:&nbsp;India: 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by Congress' Rahul Gandhi to begin from Manipur

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“If INDIA bloc comes to power, it will throw away the 50 per cent cap on reservation, ensure Dalits, tribals, OBCs get their rights,” the ex-Congress chief said.

He added: "There will be no reduction in reservation of Dalits and Adivasis. I am giving you a guarantee that the backward sections of society will get their rights. This is the biggest issue - social and economic injustice"

<h2>Gandhi takes on PM Modi</h2>

Rahul Gandhi also accused the Indian PM of opposing the idea of a caste census. He added that Modi used to say he was an OBC leader but now says there are only two castes- the rich and the poor.

"When the time came to give rights to OBCs, Dalits, tribals, Modi ji says there are no castes and when it is time to get votes, he says he is an OBC," Gandhi claimed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw0H742oWhctIUJnXpHuo8VI" data-ved="2ahUKEwjx2MXY55SEAxUm3TgGHWVEADEQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-mandir-inauguration-modis-function-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-takes-a-dig-at-indian-pm-680512" jsname="YKoRaf">Ram Mandir inauguration ‘Modi’s function’: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Indian PM</a>

He also blamed PM Modi for “killing” the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and handing them over to big industrialists.

“Narendra Modi and his government are slowly killing the PSUs…The central government wants the HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation) to not function, and in the coming days, they will replace the name HEC with an Adani nameplate. They want to privatise it,” Gandhi said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s biggest opposition Congress party, on Monday (Feb 5) promised a nationwide caste census and removal of 50 per cent cap on reservations if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the upcoming general elections.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s biggest opposition Congress party, on Monday (Feb 5) promised a nationwide caste census and removal of 50 per cent cap on reservations if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the upcoming general elections. India’s major opposition parties have formed the bloc in an attempt to challenge incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third time in office. Gandhi’s big promise Gandhi made the promise while addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Ranchi. He said Dalits, tribals, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) were made “bonded labourers” and they were not fairly represented in major corporations, big companies, schools and hospitals. "This is the biggest question before India. Our first step would be to get a caste census in the country,” Gandhi said. He added that the current regime doesn’t allow the total reservation to go beyond the 50 per cent mark, before going on to make the radical promise to remove the cap altogether. Watch: India: 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by Congress' Rahul Gandhi to begin from Manipur × “If INDIA bloc comes to power, it will throw away the 50 per cent cap on reservation, ensure Dalits, tribals, OBCs get their rights,” the ex-Congress chief said. He added: "There will be no reduction in reservation of Dalits and Adivasis. I am giving you a guarantee that the backward sections of society will get their rights. This is the biggest issue - social and economic injustice" Gandhi takes on PM Modi Rahul Gandhi also accused the Indian PM of opposing the idea of a caste census. He added that Modi used to say he was an OBC leader but now says there are only two castes- the rich and the poor. "When the time came to give rights to OBCs, Dalits, tribals, Modi ji says there are no castes and when it is time to get votes, he says he is an OBC," Gandhi claimed. Also read: Ram Mandir inauguration ‘Modi’s function’: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Indian PM He also blamed PM Modi for “killing” the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and handing them over to big industrialists. “Narendra Modi and his government are slowly killing the PSUs…The central government wants the HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation) to not function, and in the coming days, they will replace the name HEC with an Adani nameplate. They want to privatise it,” Gandhi said. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Congress’ Rahul Gandhi promises to remove 50% reservation cap if INDIA bloc wins polls

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Centre on a fresh plea challenging its decision to grant 10 per cent reservation in jobs and admissions to general category poor candidates.&nbsp;

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also made it clear that there shall be no stay on the decision to grant quota to general category poor candidates.

The apex court, which had earlier issued notice to the Centre on similar petitions, Friday ordered tagging of the fresh plea of Tehseen Poonawalla with pending ones.&nbsp;

Petitions have been filed by parties, including 'Janhit Abhiyan' and NGO 'Youth For Equality', challenging the Centre's decision.

The petition, filed by Youth For Equality through its president Kaushal Kant Mishra, has sought the quashing of the Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019, saying that the economic criterion cannot be the sole basis for reservation and that the bill violates basic feature of the Constitution as reservation on economic grounds cannot be limited to the general category and the overall 50 per cent ceiling limit cannot be breached.

In the present form, the upper limit of quota goes up to 60 per cent which violated the decisions of the apex court.

Referring to the nine-judge bench decision of the apex court in the landmark 1992 Indira Sawhney case, the petition said the latest amendment completely violated the Constitutional norm that economic criterion cannot be the only basis of reservation.

It also said that the amendments fail to consider that Articles 14 and 16 form the basic feature of equality, and that they have been violated with the doing away of the restraints that were imposed on the reservation policy, i.E. The 50 per cent ceiling limit and the exclusion of economic status as a sole criterion.

Later in a press release, the organisation said in principle it's a welcome step and that deprivation and not caste has been made the basis of protective discrimination.

"However, the limit of total reservation is increased to 60 per cent. This will open a pandora's box. Now more and more political parties/caste groups will claim for increased percentage of reservations, both at the Centre and state level," it said.

The fresh filed by businessman Poonawalla has sought quashing of the bill, saying that backwardness for the purpose of reservation cannot be defined by "economic status alone".&nbsp;

The top court had earlier refused to stay the Modi government's decision to grant the reservation but agreed to examine the validity of the constitutional amendment which paved the way for this quota.

In poll year, the Modi government has come out with the constitutional amendment bill giving quota benefits to the poor among general category candidates.

The quota will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cleared the bill on January 8 and 9 respectively, and has been signed by President Ram Nath Kovind.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Centre on a fresh plea challenging its decision to grant 10 per cent reservation in jobs and admissions to general category poor candidates.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Centre on a fresh plea challenging its decision to grant 10 per cent reservation in jobs and admissions to general category poor candidates. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also made it clear that there shall be no stay on the decision to grant quota to general category poor candidates. The apex court, which had earlier issued notice to the Centre on similar petitions, Friday ordered tagging of the fresh plea of Tehseen Poonawalla with pending ones. Petitions have been filed by parties, including 'Janhit Abhiyan' and NGO 'Youth For Equality', challenging the Centre's decision. The petition, filed by Youth For Equality through its president Kaushal Kant Mishra, has sought the quashing of the Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019, saying that the economic criterion cannot be the sole basis for reservation and that the bill violates basic feature of the Constitution as reservation on economic grounds cannot be limited to the general category and the overall 50 per cent ceiling limit cannot be breached. In the present form, the upper limit of quota goes up to 60 per cent which violated the decisions of the apex court. Referring to the nine-judge bench decision of the apex court in the landmark 1992 Indira Sawhney case, the petition said the latest amendment completely violated the Constitutional norm that economic criterion cannot be the only basis of reservation. It also said that the amendments fail to consider that Articles 14 and 16 form the basic feature of equality, and that they have been violated with the doing away of the restraints that were imposed on the reservation policy, i.E. The 50 per cent ceiling limit and the exclusion of economic status as a sole criterion. Later in a press release, the organisation said in principle it's a welcome step and that deprivation and not caste has been made the basis of protective discrimination. "However, the limit of total reservation is increased to 60 per cent. This will open a pandora's box. Now more and more political parties/caste groups will claim for increased percentage of reservations, both at the Centre and state level," it said. The fresh filed by businessman Poonawalla has sought quashing of the bill, saying that backwardness for the purpose of reservation cannot be defined by "economic status alone". The top court had earlier refused to stay the Modi government's decision to grant the reservation but agreed to examine the validity of the constitutional amendment which paved the way for this quota. In poll year, the Modi government has come out with the constitutional amendment bill giving quota benefits to the poor among general category candidates. The quota will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cleared the bill on January 8 and 9 respectively, and has been signed by President Ram Nath Kovind.

SC declines stay on Centre's 10% quota to general category, seeks response on plea against it

Uttrakhand on Wednesday became the eighth state in the country to approve the 10 per cent quota reservation&nbsp;in education and employment opportunities for economically weaker sections in the general category.

Before Uttrakhand, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam and Maharashtra also approved the bill to implement the reservation.

The Lok Sabha recently passed the Constitution Bill, 2019 in Parliament to grant 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs to economically weaker individuals belonging to the general category across religions.

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, with 165 votes in favour and seven against.

(With inputs from ANI)

Uttrakhand on Wednesday became the eighth state in the country to approve the 10 per cent quota reservation in education and employment opportunities for economically weaker sections in the general category.

Uttrakhand on Wednesday became the eighth state in the country to approve the 10 per cent quota reservation in education and employment opportunities for economically weaker sections in the general category. Before Uttrakhand, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam and Maharashtra also approved the bill to implement the reservation. The Lok Sabha recently passed the Constitution Bill, 2019 in Parliament to grant 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs to economically weaker individuals belonging to the general category across religions. The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, with 165 votes in favour and seven against. (With inputs from ANI)

Uttrakhand approves 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in general category

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