NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday directed his attack at the central government for not presenting a clear strategy to address the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack , while reaffirming that the opposition stood united with the Centre on the issue.
"Even several days after the Pahalgam attack, no clear strategy from the govt on dealing with Pahalgam attack aftermath," Kharge said during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
The CWC also reiterated call for time-bound accountability over security and intelligence failures in the Valley.
Earlier to this, Rahul Gandhi met the family of Shubham Dwivedi in Kanpur and called on the government to grant him martyr status and the honour he deserves.
"We will unitedly and firmly respond to any threat against the unity, integrity, and prosperity of the country. The entire opposition stands with the government on this issue. We have sent this message to the entire world," Kharge said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah had called for retribution for the Pahalgam massacre, which occurred on April 22. The Centre has since taken several strong actions against Pakistan in response to the brutal incident in the Kashmir Valley .
Kharge on caste survey
"For this, first of all, I congratulate Rahul ji who, by constantly raising the issue, forced the government to decide on the caste census. You turned it into a powerful campaign during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra … and social justice became the most important issue of the 18th Lok Sabha elections," Kharge said.
In the CWC meeting at the party's 24 Akbar Road office, Kharge also mentioned that while the government had agreed to the party's demand for a caste survey, the timing of the decision "surprised us."
The Union government on Wednesday announced that the upcoming national census will include caste enumeration, calling the move transparent while accusing the opposition of using the issue as a "political tool."
Reacting to the decision, Congress president Kharge said caste surveys had already been completed in Congress-ruled Telangana and Karnataka, and the data was being used to shape welfare schemes. “During the AICC session in Gujarat, we passed a resolution on April 9 reiterating our demand. We also demanded the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation. The work of removing this ceiling will be done through a constitutional amendment,” he said.
Kharge, however, questioned the timing and intent behind the Centre’s sudden shift in stance. “The government accepted our years-old demand for a caste census but the time chosen surprised us … Many doubts have arisen in our minds due to the language and sentiment with which many things were said,” he remarked, recalling that when he had written to the Prime Minister in April 2023 on the issue, the government had outright rejected it.
He pointed to the government's past opposition, saying, “The government opposed our demand on every platform. It was called divisive and called an Urban Naxal (thought). Modi ji and RSS leaders criticised it in state election campaigns. Slogans like 'Batenge toh Katenge' were raised.”
Kharge also reminded party leaders and the public of the caste survey initiated during the UPA-2 government in 2011, saying the data collection had officially concluded in March 2016. “The government itself accepted this in response to a Rajya Sabha question in 2022. Then was it not stupidity to expect us to publish incomplete data in 2014?” he asked.
“We will say we are happy that they understood our point, albeit, late. There is an old saying, better late than never!” he said.
He reiterated the grand old party's commitment, as outlined in its 2024 election manifesto, to conduct a comprehensive social, economic, and caste survey to determine the population of all communities, assess their share in national resources, and ensure adequate representation. “It is our view that this will be an X-ray of society,” Kharge added.
"Even several days after the Pahalgam attack, no clear strategy from the govt on dealing with Pahalgam attack aftermath," Kharge said during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting.
The CWC also reiterated call for time-bound accountability over security and intelligence failures in the Valley.
Earlier to this, Rahul Gandhi met the family of Shubham Dwivedi in Kanpur and called on the government to grant him martyr status and the honour he deserves.
"We will unitedly and firmly respond to any threat against the unity, integrity, and prosperity of the country. The entire opposition stands with the government on this issue. We have sent this message to the entire world," Kharge said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah had called for retribution for the Pahalgam massacre, which occurred on April 22. The Centre has since taken several strong actions against Pakistan in response to the brutal incident in the Kashmir Valley .
Kharge on caste survey
"For this, first of all, I congratulate Rahul ji who, by constantly raising the issue, forced the government to decide on the caste census. You turned it into a powerful campaign during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra … and social justice became the most important issue of the 18th Lok Sabha elections," Kharge said.
In the CWC meeting at the party's 24 Akbar Road office, Kharge also mentioned that while the government had agreed to the party's demand for a caste survey, the timing of the decision "surprised us."
The Union government on Wednesday announced that the upcoming national census will include caste enumeration, calling the move transparent while accusing the opposition of using the issue as a "political tool."
Reacting to the decision, Congress president Kharge said caste surveys had already been completed in Congress-ruled Telangana and Karnataka, and the data was being used to shape welfare schemes. “During the AICC session in Gujarat, we passed a resolution on April 9 reiterating our demand. We also demanded the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation. The work of removing this ceiling will be done through a constitutional amendment,” he said.
Kharge, however, questioned the timing and intent behind the Centre’s sudden shift in stance. “The government accepted our years-old demand for a caste census but the time chosen surprised us … Many doubts have arisen in our minds due to the language and sentiment with which many things were said,” he remarked, recalling that when he had written to the Prime Minister in April 2023 on the issue, the government had outright rejected it.
He pointed to the government's past opposition, saying, “The government opposed our demand on every platform. It was called divisive and called an Urban Naxal (thought). Modi ji and RSS leaders criticised it in state election campaigns. Slogans like 'Batenge toh Katenge' were raised.”
Kharge also reminded party leaders and the public of the caste survey initiated during the UPA-2 government in 2011, saying the data collection had officially concluded in March 2016. “The government itself accepted this in response to a Rajya Sabha question in 2022. Then was it not stupidity to expect us to publish incomplete data in 2014?” he asked.
“We will say we are happy that they understood our point, albeit, late. There is an old saying, better late than never!” he said.
He reiterated the grand old party's commitment, as outlined in its 2024 election manifesto, to conduct a comprehensive social, economic, and caste survey to determine the population of all communities, assess their share in national resources, and ensure adequate representation. “It is our view that this will be an X-ray of society,” Kharge added.
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