Congress leader Ashok Gehlot emphasizes unity across castes and religions for India to become Vishwaguru.

Ashok Gehlot, former Rajasthan CM and Congress leader, says India's dream of becoming Vishwaguru can only be realized with unity among people of all castes and religions, achieved through social justice. He praises Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue of caste census, which the Union government has agreed to conduct, and emphasizes the importance of equality in society to become a world leader.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has underscored the importance of social justice in achieving unity among people of all castes and religions, a prerequisite for India to become a global leader. Speaking on July 19, 2025, Gehlot highlighted that the country's dream of becoming a "Vishwa Guru" can only be realized through the equitable distribution of social justice [4].

Gehlot praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his persistent advocacy of the caste census, which the Union government has agreed to conduct. This decision is a significant step towards addressing systemic inequalities and ensuring fair representation for all communities [1][2]. The caste census, modeled on Telangana's SEEEP (social, educational, employment, economic, political) survey, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic status of different castes in India [1][2].

The former Chief Minister also emphasized the need for a relaxation of the 50% reservation cap for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in educational institutions, government services, and politics. This move is intended to provide greater opportunities for OBCs and ensure their appropriate representation in various sectors [1][2]. Additionally, Gehlot advocated for reservations in private educational institutions as per Article 15(5) of the Constitution of India [1][2].

In his address, Gehlot criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its apparent inconsistency between its rhetoric and actions on issues such as the caste census and the use of the term "Ram." He noted that the BJP's use of the word "Ram" in the names of its leaders is a stark contrast to the Congress's interpretation of "Maryada Purushottam Ram" and expressed concerns about the BJP's potential use of the caste census as an election tactic [4].

Gehlot's remarks underscore the importance of social justice as a cornerstone of India's unity and prosperity. His call for a comprehensive caste census and relaxation of reservation caps is a step towards addressing longstanding inequalities and ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities for growth and development.

References:
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/congress-seeks-socio-economic-features-in-census-to-break-50-ceiling-in-obc-quota/articleshow/122576754.cms
[2] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2025/Jul/17/conduct-caste-census-on-telangana-model-congress-obc-council-to-centre
[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/make-in-india-will-remain-mere-speeches-unless-india-becomes-self-reliant-in-production-rahul-gandhi/articleshow/122782826.cms
[4] https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/latest-news-social-justice-key-to-indias-unity-slams-bjp-on-caste-census-and-ram-gehlot-7007605.html