A video featuring Rahul Gandhi’s public address is being shared with allegations suggesting that he asserted only individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds such as the poor, backward classes, dalits, and tribals engage in criminal activities. This article aims to fact-check the assertions made in connection with the video.
Claim: Only individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds such as the poor, backward classes, dalits, and tribals engage in criminal activities – Rahul Gandhi
Fact: In his speech Rahul Gandhi says “in jails, we can only find backward people, dalits, tribals. You will not find a single rich person in the jails of India”, highlighting the plight of socially disadvantaged segments of society. This excerpt of Rahul Gandhi’s is taken out of context and associated with false implications. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
The video in circulation captures Rahul Gandhi stating, “in jails, we can only find backward people, Dalits, tribals. You will not find a single rich person in the jails of India.” While it is accurate that Rahul Gandhi made these remarks during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Aligarh, it’s important to understand the broader context in which he made these comments. He was addressing the employment challenges confronting economically and socially disadvantaged individuals in the country.
After conducting a YouTube search using pertinent keywords, we obtained the complete footage of the video featuring Rahul Gandhi’s remarks. According to the video description, the speech was delivered during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra held in Aligarh on 25 February 2024.
Approximately one hour into the video, Rahul Gandhi addresses the employment challenges faced by socially disadvantaged groups. Translated loosely from Hindi, Rahul Gandhi’s speech includes the following: “If you want to grasp where 90% of people are employed… where Dalits, backward classes, and minorities work, let me enlighten you. Allow me to delineate your position in this nation. Take a look at the MNREGA list, and within it, you’ll find individuals from backward communities, dalits, tribals, and minorities.”
He continues by stating, “consider contract labourers, examine the list of sanitation workers, and you’ll discover dalits, tribals, minorities, and backward individuals. This represents the reality of India. Consider prisons; within them, you’ll encounter individuals from backward communities, dalits, and tribals. You won’t find a wealthy individual incarcerated in the jails of India.”
Therefore, based on this speech, it can be deduced that Rahul Gandhi was addressing the plight of socially disadvantaged segments of society, and at no point did he suggest that only these groups are involved in criminal activities. In other words, excerpts from Rahul Gandhi’s speech are being taken out of context and disseminated with a misleading narrative.
To sum it up, Rahul Gandhi’s speech concerning Dalits and tribals is being circulated with a misleading narrative.
