Congressional Working Committee Meeting to Seek Amendment to Remove 50% Booking Cap

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge introduced an event to regularly serve civilian workers at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in Bangalore. Image source: PTI

Congress on Thursday (May 1, 2025) asked the Narendra Modi government to propose a constitutional amendment to remove the 50% cap of bookings, even if it targets “the owner of headlines without deadlines.”

A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) was also convened on Friday (May 2, 2025) to discuss the roadmap for the party’s social justice agenda after the caste census. In addition to drawing future courses for action, the party may also thank leaders including Rahul Gandhi for “forced the Modi government to announce a caste census”.

The CWC, which met on April 24 after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, is also expected to urge the government to take strong action against Pakistan and take a “martyr” status against the victims of the terrorist attack.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge spoke on social justice at public meetings in Hubballi and Bengaluru in Karnataka, claiming that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been opposed to the caste census.

“From the beginning, they [BJP-RSS] Objection to reserve. They have no right to talk about what they have done. We, all the opposition parties pressurized and Rahul Gandhi led the caste census. We have achieved success and we are very happy. ” Mr. Hager told reporters in Bangalore.

At a press conference at the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Jairam Ramesh, Vice President of Communications at Congress General Secretary, said the question raised by the Modi government’s turnaround on this issue.

Mr Ramesh pointed out that exactly a year ago, the Prime Minister said: “Those who demand the country’s caste census show the mentality of the city’s nux”.

“Have the Prime Minister and Home Secretary now also become urban Naxals since they announced plans to conduct a caste census in the country?” he asked.

Asked about the timing of the announcement, Mr Ramesh said the biggest problem in the country was the Pahargam massacre, and when the country was expected to respond to Pakistan, the government was addicted to the “transfer strategy” by declaring a caste census.

Congress leaders listed a December 2019 press release saying the union cabinet had allocated Rs 825.4 crore and conducted a census in 2021. Currently, in the current budget, the Census Commissioner responsible for the holder census has been allocated a meager 575 crore rupees.

Congress leaders asked: “So what kind of census they intend to complete in a 575 crore rupees. What is the intention – just give the title?

Mr Ramesh asserted that the results of the caste census would be invalid if the 50% upper limit was not removed. He added: “The government should propose a constitutional amendment to the parliament.”

The Chief Opposition also released posters outside the AICC headquarters and launched a social media campaign to thank Mr. Gandhi. In an article on X, senior leader Pawan Khera shared video clips including PM Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Trade Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Giriraj Singh and BJP Anurag Thakur.

Mr Khera said: “They resort to all kinds of rumors, lies and insults against @rahulgandhi’s request for the caste census. Now, they are forced to eat crows.”