Curated By: Sanstuti Nath
Last Updated: October 05, 2023, 09:20 IST
Union minister Kiren Rijiju claimed that with his remark, the Congress leader is ‘playing with fire’. (File pic: PTI)
Rijiju said the demand for the distribution of rights based on the population would deprive minorities of opportunities in nation-building
Amid the ongoing debate over caste census, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his ‘jitni abadi utna haq’ (greater population, greater rights) remark and listed the consequences of providing rights based on the population for states with lesser number of residents.
Rijiju claimed that with his remark, the Congress leader is ‘playing with fire’ as the demand for the distribution of rights based on the population would deprive minorities of opportunities in nation-building.
“Rahul Gandhi is playing with fire. His call for ‘Jitni Abaadi-Utna Haq’ will kill India… States like Arunachal Pradesh, Hilly North-Eastern States, Ladakh & thousands of tiny communities who’s population are less will be deprived of everything… Difficult border areas will never get development since very few people can live in rugged mountains; unfavorable areas.. Minorities of India would never get opportunity in nation building,” the BJP leader said in a post on his official X handle.
Rahul Gandhi is playing with fireHis call for ‘Jitni Abaadi-Utna Haq’ will kill India… States like Arunachal Pradesh, Hilly North-Eastern States, Ladakh & thousands of tiny communities who’s population are less will be deprived of everything… Difficult border areas will… https://t.co/qlvEqIb8l6— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 4, 2023
He also claimed the Congress leader’s stance shows his ‘desperation’ for power.
“Ruhul Gandhi has openly started Doing things and Saying words which can potentially destroy our country,” Rijiju added.
Following the announcement of Bihar’s caste-based census, Congress has been demanding a nationwide caste census and greater representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) based on their population.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi raised the slogan of ‘jitni abadi utna haq‘ as Congress’ new ‘pledge and said it is important to know the caste statistics of India.
“The caste census of Bihar has revealed that OBC SC ST are 84% there. Out of 90 secretaries of the Central Government, only 3 are OBC, who handle only 5% of India’s budget! Therefore, it is important to know the caste statistics of India. ‘Jitni Abadi Utna Haq’ – this is our pledge,” Gandhi posted on ‘X’ on Monday.
