New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- Positioning Congress as the champions of social justice, party president Mallikarjun Kharge told the Extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Wednesday that the "conspiracy" to remove millions of voters" will also affect social benefits of Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities and other marginalised groups. He reminded that the Congress government had given 69% reservation in Tamil Nadu 30 years ago but Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to give constitutional protection to the proposed 65% reservation in Bihar. "I would like to ask the Prime Minister whether there is any compulsion to prevent the people of Bihar from getting constitutional protection to the 65% reservation passed by the government. History bears witness that the Congress government even gave constitutional protection to 69% reservation for the people of Tamil Nadu thirty years ago. The double engine government could not do this here," Kharge said, as the Congress braces for the upcoming poll in Bihar, known for its caste-based politics. Kharge also linked the controversial Special Intensive Revision of electoral roll in Bihar with benefits enjoyed by backward sections of the society. "Like Bihar, a conspiracy is being hatched to cut the votes of millions of people across the country. Vote theft means theft of rations of Dalits, Adivasis, Backward Classes, Ultra-Backward Classes, Minorities, Weak and Poor, theft of pensions, theft of medicines, theft of children's scholarships and theft of examinations. The 'Voter Rights Yatra' spread awareness among the people of Bihar and they openly came to support Rahul Gandhi," he said. The remarks assume importance as the Congress plans to link social benefits with voter lists in its key plank in the run up to the Bihar elections. The extended CWC is aimed to give a push to the party's poll preparations and campaign. "Today, when our Voter List is being officially tampered with, it is necessary that we hold our Extended CWC meeting in Bihar, the mother of democracy, and reiterate our commitment to preserve democracy and the Constitution of this country," Kharge said, "The basis of democracy is fair and transparent elections. But today, the very impartiality and transparency of the Election Commission is being seriously questioned. There have been disclosures in various states, EC is asking us for an affidavit instead of answering those questions." He also reminded that Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had earlier written an article against reservation. "The strangest thing was done by the Chief Minister of UP, who considers himself the successor of the Prime Minister. He had earlier written an article against reservation. Now they have banned rallies in the name of castes. Will the Prime Minister tell the country that on the one hand we are talking about conducting a caste census, and on the other hand your Chief Minister is talking about putting people in jail who take to the streets against the injustice and oppression being done to them? Is this right? You should tell the public." Kharge also claimed that the BJP considers Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as a burden. "The internal strife in the NDA coalition is now open. Nitish Kumar has been mentally retired for the BJP. The BJP is now considering them as a burden." The Congress president hit out at the "failure" of the "double engine government" in Bihar over core issues including unemployment, low rural consumption and the Modi government's failure to double farmers' income. "The BJP re-supported Nitish Kumar in January 2024 to form the NDA government in Bihar. The Nitish government promised development, but Bihar's economy is lagging behind. The claim of "double engine" proved hollow, no special package from the Centre. The unemployment rate in Bihar is above 15%. Millions of young people migrate every year. Because of the recruitment scam, youths are protesting in the streets and eating the police baton," Kharge added. Addressing the first CWC in Bihar since Independence, The Congress chief argued that the condition of farmers in Bihar is probably the worst in the country and the suffering of millions of people from floods every year is proof that the government is completely failing in flood management. "The Prime Minister on several occasions promised to revive the sugar industry of Bihar. But ten years later, his promise remained false."...