Patna, Jan 18 (Reporter) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reiterated his demand for caste census at the national level, saying it is necessary for the development of the nation. Gandhi, also a former Congress President, while addressing a conference organised on the "save the constitution " theme here, said that the oppressed and backward were not given their due rights despite having such provisions in the constitution. There was virtually no representation of the oppressed and backward at the top level of bureaucracy, management of corporate houses, media, and other sectors, he added. " During my recent interactions with BJP MPs of backward communities they disclosed that they have no power and feeling like 'captive' in the cage ", the Congress leader said adding that despite getting representations, they did not get power so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hijacked their power somewhere else, he alleged. Gandhi reiterated his demand for a caste census at the National level and said it would help in the rapid development of the country. The caste census should be carried out honestly to ensure help to those who needed it, he pointed out and dismissed the caste census conducted by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar as farce as it was only an attempt to befool the people. Simply conducting the caste census was not enough and action taken based on its findings, was also important, he stressed. Congress leader said that he would continue to raise the demand for caste census and also for scrapping the fifty percent limit reservation, even at the cost of political losses. All efforts should be made to protect the constitution as all constitutional institutions were being saffronised under the regime of Narendra Modi government, he charged. Gandhi said that the wealth of the country was being handed over to some favorite corporate houses of the country by the Narendra Modi government. Such indiscrimination could not be tolerated at any cost by his party, he added. Congress leader came down heavily on RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat for his statement that India did not get its independence on August 15, 1947 but in 2024 when Ram temple was constructed at Ayodhya. His statement was a reflection of the fact that he had no regard for the constitution and the country did not get independence in 1947, he pointed out...////...