Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reaffirmed his party’s support for backward communities in their demand for political representation that reflects their population. Speaking to members of the Vishwakarma community earlier this week, Gandhi emphasized the need for a caste census to accurately understand and address social inequalities.

In a video shared on Thursday, Gandhi said the Congress is committed to helping OBCs and extremely backward groups gain respect, particularly in Bihar and northern India. He stated his goal is to place leadership of the Congress in the hands of OBCs, Dalits, and tribals, calling this shift their "weapon" in the fight for justice. Gandhi expressed concern over the underrepresentation of backward communities in key areas like the bureaucracy, judiciary, media, corporate sector, and the military. He asserted that a caste census would reveal the extent of this imbalance and guide policies to ensure fair representation.

He told the community that their struggle is not just for representation, but for actual power, and stressed the importance of a united voice. Gandhi also noted that the Congress has already begun empowering backward communities at the district level in Gujarat and intends to expand this across other states. Concluding, Gandhi pledged continued support for the backward classes and encouraged their leaders to step forward with the backing of their communities, saying that real change would follow when empowered voices from these groups are heard.