Rahul Gandhi promises law for extremely backward classes in Bihar, based on SC/ST Atrocities Act

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (September 24) reached out to the numerically powerful and extremely backward classes (EBC) of Bihar, promising, among other things, a Protection from Atrocities Act, on the lines of the SC/ST Act, if the INDIA bloc came to power in the state.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha addressed the ‘Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp’ (Commitment to Justice for the Extremely Backward Classes) symposium, soon after the Congress Working Committee meeting in the city.

He was joined by All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and alliance partner Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD, among others.

Gandhi unveiled 10 resolutions (sankalp) for the benefit of EBCs, who, according to the caste survey conducted by the Nitish Kumar government, constitute 36% of the total population of the state.

Besides the promise of the ‘Prevention of EBC Atrocities Act’, other resolutions include an increase in quotas for EBCs in local bodies and panchayats from the current 20% to 30%.

Also proposed is a total quota of 50% for SC, ST, OBC and EBC “in public procurement worth up to

₹25 crore”, “admissions to private educational institutions in the State” and “three decimal places of land in urban areas and five decimal places in rural areas” to landless families from backward castes.

“These resolutions reflect a vision based on discussions we have been having with EBCs for some time,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi’s move marks an ambitious attempt to chip away at the support base that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who leads the JD(U), has cultivated over the years.

However, Kharge, who spoke before Gandhi, slammed Kumar for returning to the NDA last year and said, “BJP Nitish has shown that he supports ‘Manuvaad’ (caste-based hierarchy).”

Turning to Tejashwi Yadav, the Congress leader said, “Don’t give in if tomorrow he approaches you again for realignment. We saw ‘Aya Ram Gaya Ram’ in Haryana. We don’t want ‘Aya Nitish Gaya Nitish’ here. Other promises listed in the 10 resolutions are the removal of the 50% cap on reservations for backward castes and the system of declaring candidates as “not found fit”, which prevents filling of reserved seats.

“It is also proposed to create a very powerful reservation regulatory authority and make the approval of the state legislature mandatory for any changes in the quota list,” Gandhi said.

He ended his brief speech by reiterating that he would soon release a “hydrogen bomb” to prove that votes were “stolen” at the behest of the BJP.