Committed to secularism, will enact 'Rohith Vemula Act' if voted: Congress

The Congress on Sunday promised to bring in a special legislation called the "Rohith Vemula Act" to redress the discrimination faced by students from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities in educational institutions, and asserted that it shall commit to secularism in letter and spirit and will be at the forefront to protect the rights of minorities.

In its social justice and empowerment resolution passed at its 85th plenary session, the Congress committed to conduct a socio-economic caste census along with the decennial census.

The party said it has advocated reservations for economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society but the BJP's policy on EWS quota has excluded even the poor SCs, STs and OBCs from availing benefits under EWS quota.

The Congress said it considers poor belonging to all communities to be economically weaker and therefore poor SCs, STs and OBCs cannot be excluded from the EWS quota.

"Congress party would ensure that economically weaker section category student