Rahul Gandhi bats for dalit rights in Gujarat's Patan

Rahul Gandhi. File pic

Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of posing a "direct threat" to India's democracy and constitution. Speaking at a rally in Gujarat's Patan Lok Sabha constituency, Gandhi emphasised that the current election is a key battle between opposing ideological forces.

Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of attempting to undermine India's Constitution while emphasising the efforts of the Congress and the INDIA alliance to protect it. He also chastised the ruling administration for expanding socioeconomic inequities and enacting policies like as the Agnipath Scheme and increased privatisation, which he argued were intended to dismantle the reservation system.

The Congress leader highlighted India's rising wealth inequality, in which a few individuals hold money comparable to millions. He also emphasised marginalised communities' underrepresentation in important sectors such as journalism and politics.

"This is a fight between two thought processes. On one side, the BJP and RSS want to finish our constitution while on the other, we in the Congress and the INDIA bloc are safeguarding it," said Gandhi while addressing a rally in Patan Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat.

"In the last decade, the wealth gap has widened significantly. Today, 22 individuals in India control wealth equivalent to that of 17,000 crore Indians," he remarked.

Gandhi emphasised the significance of tackling the unemployment situation and proposed a caste census to provide fair representation for Dalits and Adivasis. He questioned these populations' absence from major events such as the Ram Mandir and Parliamentary inaugurations.

"You will not find an Adivasi or a Dalit among the top anchors and editors in the country. Nor will you see unemployed youth or farmers on television, which instead showcases the opulent weddings of the wealthy and Bollywood actors," said Gandhi.

The Patan Lok Sabha constituency, which was initially dominated by the Congress, has seen recurrent fights between the BJP and the Congress since 1989, when the seat was allocated for the Scheduled Caste category.

With IANS inputs