NEW DELHI: A day after unveiling the ‘Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp,’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reaffirmed that the Mahagathbandhan is committed to securing full rights for the extremely backward, Dalit, tribal, minority, and other backward communities, regardless of the “lies and distractions” spread by the BJP.
On Wednesday, Gandhi engaged with Bihar’s numerically significant extremely backward classes (EBCs), promising, among other measures, a law to protect them against atrocities, modeled on the SC/ST Act, if the INDIA bloc assumes power in the state.
The outreach, held under the banner of ‘Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp’ (Pledge for Justice to Extremely Backward Classes), comes days ahead of the state assembly election announcement. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who was in Patna for a Congress Working Committee meeting, attended the event alongside party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Mahagathbandhan allies, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
“No matter how many lies and distractions the BJP may spread, we are determined to ensure that the extremely backward, Dalit, tribal, minority, and backward communities receive their full rights,” Gandhi said in a Hindi post on X.
He emphasized that the “Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp Patra” contains concrete promises to empower these communities and boost their participation in Bihar’s development. Education, he said, is the key to progress, and special measures will be taken to expand access.
Under the proposals, reservations will be extended to private colleges and universities, half of the reserved seats in private schools will be allocated for SC/ST/OBC/EBC children, and the unfair “Not Found Suitable” system in appointments will be abolished.
“This is not just a fight for education; it is a struggle for equality and dignity for the extremely backward communities. It guarantees true social justice and equitable development,” Gandhi asserted.
During his address, he outlined 10 key resolutions focused on the welfare of EBCs and other deprived castes, including SCs, STs, and OBCs. According to a caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government, EBCs make up 36% of Bihar’s population.
The resolutions include the introduction of an ‘EBC Prevention of Atrocities Act,’ an increase in EBC quotas in local bodies and panchayats from 20% to 30%, and a total 50% reservation across SC, ST, OBC, and EBC categories in government contracts up to Rs 25 crore, admissions to private educational institutions, and allocation of land (three decimals in urban areas and five decimals in rural areas) to landless families from deprived castes.
Gandhi’s outreach signals a strategic push to expand support among a constituency that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) have long cultivated.
