As Rahul Gandhi makes one more trip to election-bound Bihar, the Congress leader is solidly picking up issues related to backward castes, charting a clear political trajectory for the state leadership.
Gandhi has already visited the state four times this year, each trip comprising of meetings or rallies, collectively laying down organisational foundation and gearing up on the narrative front.
"He is very much focused on Bihar," a state unit leader said, "that has been communicated to all in the leadership hierarchy."
Assembly polls in Bihar are due later this year.
In his speech in Bihar's Gaya on Thursday, he appealed to the socially deprived sections, saying, "Whatever is in my heart, I should tell you and whatever is in your heart, you should tell me. The government tried completely to stop me, they put up barricades but I came to you from the back door."
Pointing towards Dalits, backward classes, and tribals, he said, "there is oppression against you twenty hours a day in this country. You are suppressed, you are stopped in the education system. Papers are leaked and everything is done to stop your career, to ruin it."
Gandhi added the Congress has made three demands, and the primary one is a caste census, and going forth its implementation in Telangana.
He also spoke of the need for reservation in private colleges and universities. “But neither Modi nor the Bihar government is implementing that law. That is why we have to put pressure on them."
Gandhi said, "I am telling you, just like I came here, they could not stop it. Similarly they will not be able to stop us now. Unless they make reservations in private institutions, we will keep moving ahead and keep fighting."
