On April 17 in New Delhi (NationPress), Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing critique of the Congress party during a Lok Sabha session, accusing it of a long-standing opposition to a caste-based census and reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) throughout its tenure in governance.

In response to the ongoing discussion surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill and related delimitation proposals during the special Parliamentary session, Shah emphasized that Congress has historically neglected social justice initiatives aimed at backing marginalized communities.

He stated, “The Congress party has consistently resisted both caste-based census and reservation policies.”

Shah pointed out that during its time in power, Congress had never appointed an OBC leader to the position of Prime Minister, a situation that changed only with the advent of PM Modi as Prime Minister, marking a significant milestone in the nation's leadership.

To reinforce his argument, Shah referenced key events from Congress's past, such as in 1980 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stalled the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.

In 1990, while serving as Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi endorsed the Mandal Commission report but delivered a vehement two-and-a-half-hour speech in Parliament opposing OBC reservations.

The Home Minister contrasted the Congress’s stance with that of the current administration, asserting, “For Congress, electoral success is paramount. However, our priority lies in ensuring the representation of our nation's populace and their authentic involvement in governance.”

His comments arose amid intense discussions in the House regarding the timing and implications of the women's quota legislation, which is tied to a forthcoming delimitation process.

Opposition parties, including Congress and regional allies, have called for a caste census prior to moving ahead with delimitation and the implementation of reservations, arguing it is vital for ensuring proper sub-quotas for OBC, SC, and ST women.

By revisiting Congress’s historical actions on the Mandal Commission, Shah aimed to dismantle the opposition's narrative and position the BJP-led government as the genuine advocate for the empowerment of backward classes.

He reiterated that the focus of the PM Modi administration remains on fostering inclusive representation rather than mere electoral calculations.

This statement is poised to escalate the political discourse surrounding social justice, caste enumeration, and reservation policies as the House continues its discussions on the proposed constitutional amendments.

As voting on critical bills approaches, Shah’s remarks have established a confrontational tone, placing Congress in a defensive position regarding its historical stance on OBC matters.