'Anti National Move To Bypass Caste Census And Take Away Power From OBCs': Rahul Gandhi In Lok Sabha On Three Bills

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the BJP, saying that they call OBCs and Dalits Hindus but do not give them any place in the country. He termed the BJP's intent an anti-national move.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said, "Thank you, Speaker Sir, for letting me speak on an important topic. Women are a central, driving force in our national imagination and national perspective. Every single one in this room has been taught and learned from women in their lives. As Kiren Rijiju said, the Prime Minister and I do not have wives issue, I have sisters and mothers."

Three bills - The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, The Delimitation Bill, 2026, The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 - were introduced in Parliament on Thursday, on the first day of the three-day special sitting of the extended Budget session.

Speaking on the debate on the three bills essentially seeking to increase the number of MPs in Lok Sabha, Gandhi said, "There are certain truths that need to be spoken in this House. The first truth is that this is not a women’s bill, and it has nothing to do with women’s empowerment. It was passed in 2023, and my friends in the BJP said it would be implemented,” he said.

Gandhi said that it is an attempt to alter India’s electoral map, using women as a cover. "It is a shameful act. Bring back the original bill now, and we will support its passage," he added.

"There is a central truth in India's history, both past and present, which I have increasingly come to recognise: the harsh and unjust treatment of OBCs, Dalits, minorities, and women. Everyone knows how Indian society has treated Dalits and their women; these are undeniable facts. What is being attempted here is a way to bypass the caste census. The agenda is to take power away from OBCs," he said.

The second issue is equally dangerous, argued the LoP in Lok Sabha. Out of fear of losing strength, "you are trying to redraw India's political map. This requires a Constitutional amendment. You are effectively telling southern states, northern states, and smaller states that their position will change. This is nothing short of an anti-national move. Under no circumstances will we allow this," he added.

"The entire opposition will oppose it. I want to ask corporate India, where are the Dalits and OBCs? Where are they in the top bureaucracy, judiciary, private sector, and healthcare? Earlier, there was space in the public sector, but that too has been handed over to a few. You call OBCs and Dalits Hindus, but you do not give them their due place in this country," Rahul maintained.

He recalled an instance from his childhood where an act of magician failed and after that probably he could not perform any other magic.

"There is a partnership between our friend the magician and the businessman. There is a hidden power, massive, extremely strong, but completely hidden. That power knows the entire history of the magician, it knows the information of the magician when he came to politics to Prime Minister. It is using the information to shape.....this action...The BJP knew that this Bill cannot be passed and they are not stupid. This was a panic reaction, the Prime Minister needed to send two messages, he needed to send two messages, change the electoral map, and he is pro-women," he said.

"The magician of Balakot, Sindoor, Demonetisation, has caught because....," Rahul said. Rahul referred to the Prime Minister as the magician and was admonished by Speaker Om Birla.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the BJP condemns the words used by the Leader of Opposition and it should be expunged.

"There is a central confusion in the BJP. And I have to put it right, there is central confusion, they think they are the people of India, people are something else, they think the Armed Forces, stop hiding like cowards..behind the people and Armed Forces," he said.

"I want to conclude with an idea, I want to give you a sense, I am giving you a nice puzzle. Yesterday I was watching the Prime Minister speak, low energy, he was not able to engage, trying to pass this Bill was a mistake, and I noticed on my phone, April 16, that is the number 16, the whole answer to the riddle. The answer to the problem is number 16," he maintained without explaining it.

Outside the Lok Sabha, Rahul refused to solve the puzzle while speaking to reporters. "It is a puzzle, I won't tell the answer just like that. If I find the solution, I will tell you this is it," he said.