Lucknow, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the Narendra Modi-led government for its failure to provide employment opportunities to Dalits and other backward classes, who make up 90% of India’s population. During a public meeting in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi highlighted the issue of job scarcity for marginalized communities and the growing divide in Indian society.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Gandhi raised questions about the employment prospects for backward classes, Dalits, tribals, and minorities in Modi’s vision of ‘Ram Rajya’. He challenged the notion of a just society under the current government, citing the lack of job opportunities for nearly the entire population that belongs to these groups. Gandhi provided a breakdown of the population, noting that backward classes constitute 50%, Dalits 15%, tribals 8%, and minorities another 15%, yet they all face significant barriers to employment under Modi’s administration.

Gandhi also touched upon the broader issues of representation and systemic inequality, pointing out the absence of Dalits and backward classes in media, major industries, and bureaucracy. He voiced concerns over the alarming rates of hunger-related deaths across the country, indicating a deepening crisis under the current regime.

In addition, Gandhi critiqued the recent Ram Mandir inauguration for excluding representatives from backward classes, Dalits, and tribals, including significant figures such as tribal president Droupadi Murmu and Dalit former President Ramnath Kovind. He argued that such omissions reflect the broader exclusion of marginalized communities from the nation’s socio-political narrative.

Advocating for a caste census, Gandhi emphasized the need for accurate data to understand the socioeconomic status of backward communities in India. He criticized the concentration of wealth among a small elite, labeling prominent industrialists as the “Maharajas of the new India” and accusing them of ruling over the majority with the government’s support.

Gandhi’s remarks in Kanpur shed light on the pressing issues of unemployment, social inequality, and the need for greater inclusivity and representation in India’s development narrative.