Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of announcing a caste census under pressure while lacking the intent to conduct a genuine one or remove the 50 per cent reservation cap. Speaking at the launch of the 1,300 km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Sasaram, Bihar, Gandhi vowed that the INDIA bloc would ensure a comprehensive nationwide caste census and lift the reservation ceiling to deliver justice to marginalized communities.

"The BJP and Modi only announced a caste census because we raised the issue in Parliament," Gandhi said at the BIADA Ground event, attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Bihar’s opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insaan Party’s Mukesh Sahani, CPI(ML) Liberation’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M)’s Subhashini Ali, and CPI’s P Sandosh Kumar. "I know they won’t conduct a true caste census or break the 50 per cent reservation cap," he added, accusing the government of prioritizing political optics over social equity.

The yatra, launched ahead of Bihar’s assembly polls, aims to rally public support against alleged electoral manipulations and advocate for a fair caste census. Covering over 20 districts, including Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Patna, the hybrid foot-and-vehicle campaign will conclude with a rally on September 1. Tejashwi Yadav drove a jeep carrying Gandhi, Sahani, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar, and Bhattacharya, symbolizing the INDIA bloc’s unity.

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Gandhi emphasized that a caste census is critical to understanding India’s social fabric and ensuring equitable resource distribution. "The poor and marginalized rely on reservations for empowerment, but the BJP wants to keep them suppressed," he charged, alleging that the Modi government’s April announcement to include caste enumeration in the next population census lacks sincerity. The Congress has questioned the government’s timeline and commitment, noting that no clear deadline has been set for the census, the first of its kind since independence.

Kharge reinforced Gandhi’s stance, accusing the BJP of undermining constitutional protections for marginalized groups. "The Modi government bows to pressure but delivers half-measures to mislead the public," he said. Tejashwi Yadav criticized the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government for failing to address caste-based disparities, promising that the INDIA bloc would prioritize social justice if elected.

The yatra also ties into the opposition’s broader campaign against alleged "vote chori" by the Election Commission and BJP, with Gandhi citing irregularities in voter lists in states like Maharashtra. Subhashini Ali urged women, disproportionately affected by voter deletions, to join the yatra to protect their rights. As Bihar gears up for elections, the INDIA bloc is intensifying its push for a transparent caste census and expanded reservations, positioning itself as the champion of social equity against a resistant BJP.

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