Caste census necessary to know exact number of people from OBC, SC and ST communities: Priyanka
Damoh (MP) (PTI): Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday once again pitched for a caste census, saying the exercise was necessary to know the exact number of people from OBC, SC and ST communities in the country so that policies can be framed accordingly to provide benefits to them.
She was addressing a public meeting at Damoh in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.
"What is the meaning of a caste census? We want to know how many people are there in the country from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. If the government doesn't know their exact number, how will it give justice to them?" she asked.
The caste census conducted in Bihar revealed that there are 84 per cent OBCs and Dalits in the state, she said.
"But when you look at the higher posts in the country, you will find that there is no representation for them (these communities) there.
Ninety per cent of these positions do not have people from these communities. If 84 per cent people belong to this category, then they should be given representation," she said.
"When we talk about conducting a caste census, they (BJP government) turn silent, although they are organising big events...," she alleged.
On the issues of unemployment and inflation, Vadra said, "First, the government closed public sector undertakings (PSUs) and sold them to its friends. Later, it implemented demonetisation and rolled out GST which was followed by COVID-19 pandemic...All these things have broken the backbone of the people of the country."
Vadra also slammed the BJP government in the state for introducing the Ladli Behna Yojana, under which women are given financial assistance, just two months ahead of assembly elections.
"Do you consider them (women) fools and think that they don't understand all these things? What have they (BJP) done in the last 18 years of being in power?" Gandhi asked.
In the last three years, the BJP government in the state provided only 21 jobs, despite the fact that a large number of posts, including those of doctors and police, are lying vacant, she claimed.
Due to lack of development in the Bundelkhand region of the state, a large number of people migrated from this area in search of jobs, she said.
Gandhi advised people to become aware so that they can fight for their rights, and urged them to vote for the Congress for their better future.
The rally was held to campaign for Congress candidate and sitting MLA Ajay Tandon. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded former finance minister Jayant Malaiya from this seat.
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Stray dogs case: We will play video, ask you what is humanity, SC tells petitioner
New Delhi (PTI): Responding to a petitioner in the stray dogs case who objected to some rules framed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) saying "inhuman" treatment was being meted out to them, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a video will be played in the next hearing, "asking you what is humanity".
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing in the stray dogs case, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a three-judge special bench which was scheduled to assemble on Thursday to hear the matter was cancelled.
"It will come on January 7," Justice Nath said.
Sibal said, "The problem is that the MCD, in the meantime, has framed some rules which are completely contrary.color:red;"
He urged the bench to hear the matter on Friday, saying authorities don't even have dog shelters. "It is very very inhuman what is being done," Sibal said.
Justice Mehta, in an apparent reference to the stray dog menace, said "On the next date, we will play a video for your benefit and we will ask you what is humanity," .
Sibal responded that they will also play a video to show what was happening.
"The problem is your lordships has passed an order and we respect that. But the point is, there are statutory rules," he said.
When the bench said it would consider the matter on January 7, Sibal said the authorities will implement the rules in December itself.
"They will be implementing it and they will be removing the dogs. They don't have shelters," he said.
Justice Nath said, "It is alright Mr Sibal. Let them do it, we will consider."
The bench said it would hear the matter on January 7.
On November 7, taking note of the "alarming rise" in dog bite incidents within institutional areas like educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the apex court directed the forthwith relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination.
A three-judge special bench had also said the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back in the place they were picked up from.
The bench had directed the authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways and expressways.
It had said recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, reflected not only administrative apathy but also a "systemic failure" to secure these premises from preventable hazards.
The top court had passed a slew of directions in the suo motu case over the stray dog menace.
It is hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.
