Congress Leader V Hanumanth Rao Demands OBC Inclusion in Caste Census

Rao argued that by excluding a separate column for Other Backward Classes, the Centre effectively renders the community invisible, stripping them of recognition beyond the mere right to vote. He drew a sharp comparison between wildlife tracking and human census counting, questioning why the government refuses to acknowledge the demographic weight of the OBC population. Beyond the census, the veteran leader attacked the restructuring of key selection committees for the Election Commission, the Enforcement Directorate, and the Central Bureau of Investigation. He specifically criticized the removal of the Chief Justice of India from these panels, alleging that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister have replaced independent oversight with partisan appointees to manipulate electoral outcomes in states like Maharashtra and Haryana.

The Congress leader framed these actions as a direct response to Rahul Gandhi’s campaign promise to conduct a nationwide caste census if the party secures power. He suggested that the ruling establishment’s fear of this data has driven a deliberate strategy to marginalize the community. Calling on youth and women to spearhead a resistance, Rao urged the electorate to reject any party aligned with the NDA or RSS. He concluded his remarks with a defiant assertion of his party’s eventual success, insisting that the ongoing political struggle is essential to upholding the constitutional rights of the people.