A video clip of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been making rounds on social media, leading to widespread claims that he intends to scrap caste-based reservations in India. The six-second clip features Gandhi saying, "We will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place." Several BJP leaders and social media users have shared the clip, suggesting that this reveals the Congress leader’s supposed agenda to end reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The official X account of BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) shared the brief video clip on September 11, asserting that Rahul Gandhi had made his intentions clear about ending reservations. Their post read: “...Rahul Gandhi has made his intentions clear about ending reservations for SC, ST, and OBC!”
Similarly, X user Pradeep Bhandari (@pradip103), a premium subscriber, shared the video on September 10, captioning it: “RAHUL GANDHI’S AGENDA EXPOSED! RAHUL AND CONGRESS INTENDS TO END RESERVATION IN INDIA. THIS IS WHY THEY HAD SNATCHED RIGHTS OF DALITS IN KARNATAKA. CONGRESS IS ANTI-DALIT!”
Several other BJP-affiliated pages and users, such as @BJP4Haryana, @TheSquind, @AshokShrivasta6, and @RealBababanaras, echoed similar sentiments while sharing the video, further fueling the notion that Rahul Gandhi plans to abolish reservations.
A thorough investigation reveals that the viral clip is taken from a longer interview and interaction session with Rahul Gandhi at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The full interview, which lasts over an hour, is available on Rahul Gandhi’s official YouTube channel.
The relevant segment of the video begins at the 53:37 mark, where a participant in the audience asks Gandhi about the Congress party’s stance on caste-based reservations. Specifically, the individual asks, “At what point, if at all, would you move away from the idea of caste-based reservations being a permanent solution to the underlying grassroots issues that necessitate such a reservation-based system?”
Responding to this question, Rahul Gandhi highlights the disparity in the representation of underprivileged communities such as Dalits, tribals, OBCs, and minorities in India’s decision-making institutions. He elaborates that India has failed to offer adequate participation to these communities, noting: “The problem is that 90% of India is not able to play [a role]. Go through the list of every single business leader in India; show me the tribal name, show me the Dalit name, show me the OBC name. Out of the top 200, I think there is one OBC. They are 50% of India. We are not treating the symptom, that is the problem.”
At the 57:00 mark, the segment that has gone viral begins. Gandhi continues, “It [caste-based reservations] is not the only tool. There are other tools. But we will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place... and India is not a fair place.”
The key phrase from Rahul Gandhi's statement—“We will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place”—has been shared widely, but the subsequent part of his answer—“and India is not a fair place”—has been omitted in the viral clip. The full context of his remarks clarifies that Gandhi was emphasizing the current need for reservations due to the inequities faced by disadvantaged communities, rather than suggesting an immediate end to the policy. He acknowledged that India is far from achieving fairness and equality, which is why reservations remain essential.
Thus, the claim circulating on social media that Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party intends to scrap reservations is misleading and false. The viral clip has been edited to distort the actual message conveyed during the interview.
Following the circulation of the misleading video, Rahul Gandhi issued a clarification on September 11, stating, “Yesterday someone misrepresented my statement that I am against reservation. But let me make it clear – I am not against reservation. We will take reservation beyond the limit of 50%.”
The viral clip of Rahul Gandhi purportedly stating that he would end reservations has been taken out of context from a longer interview. His remarks were about the broader issue of social fairness and the continuing necessity of caste-based reservations in an unequal society. The viral six-second video shared by BJP leaders and others does not accurately reflect Gandhi's full response or stance on reservations. Instead, it misleads viewers by omitting critical parts of his statement.
देख रहे हो बिनोद, राहुल बाबा का असली चेहरा 😳👇
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) September 11, 2024
राहुल गांधी ने एससी, एसटी और ओबीसी के लिए आरक्षण खत्म करने के बारे में अपने इरादे स्पष्ट कर दिए हैं ! pic.twitter.com/ZscpgWv6Sl
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Hassan (Karnataka), Jul 26 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday refuted allegations that Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had met with state government officials, terming it "completely false".Speaking to reporters at Arsikere, Shivakumar clarified that Randeep Surjewala has neither met nor spoken to any officials.
“This is our government. If there is anything to be conveyed, he (Surjewala) will tell us directly. If there are any mistakes, he will inform us, and we will correct them. Apart from that, saying he met officials is false,” Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president said.
Asked about Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna’s statement that such meetings with officials are "illegal", Shivakumar declined to comment.
“I don’t want to speak about senior leaders. The Chief Minister has already responded to this. After his clarification, I have nothing further to say. The Chief Minister has more information than I do,” he said.