NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday shared an interview with professor Sukhadeo Thorat, a member of the Telangana caste surveys panel, discussing the need for a caste census in the country and how BR Ambedkar led a movement against caste discrimination.
The leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha spoke about the Mahad Satyagraha, saying the movement was “not just a fight for access to water but a struggle for equality and dignity”.
He said the caste census is a crucial step toward bringing “inequality to light, while its opponents seek to suppress this truth”.
The Congress leader said: “Babasaheb’s dream remains unfulfilled. His fight is not just of the past but also of the present—and we will carry it forward with full strength.”
“We spoke with renowned educationist, economist, expert on Dalit issues, and a member of the study committee on caste-based surveys in Telangana, Prof. Thorat, to discuss the significance of this Satyagraha. During the conversation, we also delved into the ongoing struggle for Dalits’ access to governance, education, bureaucracy, and resources,” he wrote on X.
Last month, Rahul Gandhi said the caste survey in Telangana revealed that nearly “90% of the state’s population comprised Dalits, Adivasis, BCs, and minorities” and that he was absolutely convinced it would be the same story in the entire country, with OBCs comprising not less than 50%.
Rahul had also raised his caste census pitch during his reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s address, saying the architecture of a new paradigm could only be built once the caste census is placed in Parliament.
The Telangana assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Bill, 2025, giving legal sanctity to the sub-categorisation of the community into three groups. Once the governor gives his assent to the bill, Telangana will become the first state to have sub-categorisation since the Supreme Court order in Aug last year.
The bill classifies the 52.17 lakh SC population in the state, comprising 59 castes, into three groups, as opposed to four groups in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Group-I, with 15 castes, has been given 1% reservation, Group-II, with 18 communities gets 9% and Group-III, with 26 castes receives 5% quota, totalling 15%.
Group-I comprises the most socially and economically disadvantaged and overlooked SC communities. Group-II includes moderately benefited castes, and the last group includes significantly benefited communities from reservations over the years. The first two groups mostly comprise Madigas and their sub-castes, while the third consists of Malas and their sub-castes.