Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said the country’s deep-rooted problems would find solutions only if Rahul Gandhi becomes Prime Minister. He called upon the district Congress committee (DCC) presidents of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to work towards securing maximum Lok Sabha seats in the two Telugu states. He was speaking at the DCC presidents’ training camp in Vikarabad, where he spoke on “caste issues and reservations – how Congress workers should fight to eliminate caste discrimination.”Bhatti said Rahul Gandhi personally visits places where incidents of untouchability or caste discrimination are reported in the country. When Rohith Vemula died by suicide after allegedly facing caste discrimination at Hyderabad Central University, Rahul Gandhi visited the campus, interacted with students, and helped shape the course of the movement. Party leaders did not allow other Congress workers to enter the campus at that time, as Rahul Gandhi believed that untouchability should be addressed as a social issue rather than politicised.“Efforts are underway in Karnataka and Telangana to introduce legislation in the name of Rohith Vemula against caste discrimination. Rahul Gandhi had promised the equitable distribution of resources and wealth in the form of welfare schemes before the elections, and after coming to power, the Congress govt has been implementing development and welfare programmes accordingly,” Bhatti said.He noted that the caste survey was completed in Telangana. “The BJP is conspiring to politically finish off the Congress, a party that not only led India’s Independence struggle but also enacted several laws to achieve economic, social, and political equality after forming the govt. The BJP is talking about a Congress-free India and about changing the Constitution in an attempt to weaken the party that has historically fought to resolve social problems. Certain political forces want society to remain socially and economically divided,” Bhatti alleged.Acknowledging that caste remains a reality in India, Bhatti said he had personally experienced caste discrimination in the past but continued to pursue his goals with determination, without allowing it to hinder progress. “The AICC is not merely a political party but has, for decades, worked to raise awareness against social evils such as untouchability, child marriage, and restrictions on widow remarriage. Alongside the freedom struggle, the Congress simultaneously carried forward social reform movements,” he said.Under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, large campaigns for Harijan upliftment were undertaken, promoting temple entry for Dalits and improving sanitation in Dalit localities, thereby creating nationwide awareness against untouchability. After Independence, he said, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar enabled the abolition of untouchability through Article 17 of the Constitution. The enactment of the SC/ST Atrocities (prevention) Act and implementation of the SC/ST sub-plan were achieved under Congress govts.He further stated that land reforms and bank nationalisation carried out by Congress govts provided economic empowerment to socially and economically backward communities, strengthening their ability to resist social discrimination.
