Patna: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday doubled down on his party’s commitment to ensuring justice and full rights for marginalized communities, just a day after launching the ‘Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp’ — a campaign aimed at uplifting the extremely backward classes (EBCs), Dalits, tribals, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.
Addressing supporters and party workers, Gandhi took a direct swipe at the BJP, accusing it of using “lies and distractions” to divert attention from the core issues affecting millions. He emphasized that the opposition alliance, known as the INDIA bloc, remains united in its goal to protect and empower historically neglected sections of society.
“The BJP may try every trick in the book, but our resolve to fight for justice remains unshaken,” Gandhi said.
On Wednesday, Gandhi had promised a new law modeled on the SC/ST Atrocities Act to protect EBCs from discrimination and violence — a significant policy announcement with the upcoming Bihar assembly elections on the horizon. His remarks were made during a public outreach program organized under the banner of ‘Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp’, which translates to “Pledge for Justice to the Extremely Backward.”
Seen as a strategic move to consolidate EBC votes in the politically crucial state of Bihar, Gandhi’s initiative is being viewed as an attempt to shift the electoral conversation toward social equity and affirmative action. The Congress, along with its allies in the INDIA bloc, is expected to challenge the ruling NDA in a high-stakes contest later this year.
While the BJP has not officially responded to Gandhi’s latest remarks, party sources have dismissed the Congress-led campaign as an election-time gimmick. However, Gandhi maintained that his proposals are rooted in constitutional values and are aimed at structural reform.
“Our fight is not just electoral, it is moral and ideological,” he said, underscoring what he framed as the Congress’s long-standing legacy of standing with the marginalized.
