Rahul Gandhi Stresses Strategic India-US Partnership and Caste Census at National Press Club

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, addressed long-term India-US relations and strategic partnerships at the National Press Club. He also discussed caste census issues, rejecting the notion that it counteracts BJP's policies, and emphasized stopping violence in Bangladesh.

During an address at the National Press Club in Washington DC, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, highlighted the long-term significance of India-US relations, particularly in strategic partnerships. Gandhi emphasized the importance of defense cooperation and questioned the global response to China's production and prosperity model. 'How can we provide a democratic vision of production or manufacturing that works for the rest of the world?' Gandhi queried, advocating for a strong US-India collaboration.

While discussing the caste census, Gandhi dismissed the idea that it counters BJP-RSS Hindutva politics. 'The Congress party has always fought for the idea that India should be a fair country,' he stated, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach to address participation issues. He clarified that his stance on reservations has been misquoted, asserting the need to increase them beyond 50 per cent.

Regarding Bangladesh, Gandhi mentioned discussions on Capitol Hill, underscoring the importance of stopping violence. 'It's the responsibility of the Bangladeshi government to stop it as soon as possible,' he said, calling for pressure from the Indian government to ensure violence cessation.

(With inputs from agencies.)