Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticized the Narendra Modi-led government, claiming that Dalits, tribals, and backward classes are not adequately represented in the Union Budget process.
“Tomorrow, you will see the finance minister with a briefcase. A photo will come. You will not see a single Dalit, tribal, backward class person, or a minority in the photo,” Gandhi said while addressing a rally in Delhi.
He alleged that out of 90 officers responsible for preparing the budget, only three belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). “Your population is 50%, and if ₹100 is distributed in the budget, then your officers will take decisions only for ₹5,” he added.
His remarks come a day after he admitted that Congress had failed to protect the interests of Dalits and backward classes after the 1990s. “If Congress had retained the confidence of Dalits and backward classes, the RSS would have never been able to come to power,” he said while addressing Dalit influencers at the ‘Vanchit Samaj: Dasha aur Disha’ event.
The comments come ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8.
