Bengaluru, 16 July

The Congress OBC Advisory Council meeting, on Wednesday, urged the Centre to carry out the proposed national caste census, taking the Telengana caste survey as a model. State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under whose leadership the two-day meeting was held in City, said a resolution was passed in this regard.

Calling the resolutions the “Bengaluru Declaration”, he said, "The Census must include social, economic and educational, employment, political aspects of each individual and caste."

The second resolution said that Congress will break the 50 per cent cap on reservation, thereby ensuring a suitable quota for the OBC in education, service, political, and other areas.

The third resolution is that there should be a reservation for OBCs in private educational institutions as per Article 15 (4) of the Indian Constitution.

They also resolved to carry out "an intense and fierce nationwide campaign" to insist on these demands.

The Advisory Council unanimously thanked "Nyaya Yoddha" (fighter for justice) Rahul Gandhi for taking up the cause of social justice for the marginalised sections of society.

"On behalf of all the backward classes of India, the council conveys its upfront appreciation and credits Rahul Gandhi’s contribution for this historic achievement," he said.

Terming the Centre’s decision for a caste survey as a milestone, Siddaramaiah said it was only a small step of the Congress in ensuring social justice as envisaged by the Indian Constitution.

Former Rajasthan chief minster Ashok Gehlot also moved a resolution aimed at strengthening Congress OBC leadership.

The committee also decided to coordinate and organise mega public rallies in various state capitals, addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

In response, the BJP called the meeting an “election gimmick”, aimed for the upcoming Bihar elections.

Siddaramaiah, State Chief Minister

India cannot be a true democracy if OBCs, SCs, STs, and minorities -- the AHINDA communities -- are merely counted but not heard. This is not just a fight for reservation. It is a fight for dignity, recognition, and real power for those historically denied it