Rahul Gandhi Is Anti-Backward Classes: BJP MP

Bharat Jodo and Nyay Yatras were not meant to empower BCs, but to serve his political interests: K Laxman

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mysuru

BJP OBC Morcha national president and Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman has strongly criticised the Congress party, claiming it had done little for the upliftment of backward classes despite ruling the country for over five decades.

Speaking at a seminar titled 'Caste Census: Background and Future' organised by the Samajika Nyaya Jagruthi Vedike at Rio Meridian, Laxman said, "Successive Congress governments ignored key commission reports aimed at the economic, social, and educational development of backward classes. These recommendations were simply discarded."

He accused former PM Jawaharlal Nehru of neglecting the Kaka Kalelkar Commission's report, which had proposed reservations in education and employment for backward classes. "Nehru, who ruled the country for 17 years, never even considered the report. Later, Indira Gandhi also dismissed the Mandal Commission report and her son Rajiv Gandhi opposed its implementation in Parliament. The Congress consistently resisted these reforms, despite the Mandal Commission including ideas rooted in B R Ambedkar's vision," he said.

Laxman alleged that Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, despite receiving electoral support from backward communities, were betraying them.