In an apparent softening of stand on caste census, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said the government may collect caste-related data if required.
Over the past one year, the caste census has emerged as one of the most politically-charged issues. The Congress and Opposition’s INDIA bloc campaigned on a platform of caste census. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the campaign with the twin promises of a caste census and the national redistribution of wealth as per the findings of the caste census.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as its ideological parent RSS initially opposed the caste census, they have softened their stand in recent months. The softening of the stand comes as at least three member-parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) —the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Lok Janshakti Party-Ramvilas (LJP-R), and Apna Dal-Sonelal (AP-S)— have demanded caste census.
Now, top RSS leader Sunil Ambekar has said that the organisation has “no problem” if the government wants to conduct a caste census to get numbers for welfare purposes.
Speaking at an RSS conclave in Kerala’s Palakkad, Ambekar cautioned that the caste census should not be politicised and should only be used for developmental purposes.
“For all welfare activities particularly addressing a particular community or caste which are lagging and needs special attention, so for that, if sometimes the government needs the numbers, it can take them. It (the government) has taken (the numbers) earlier also, it can take it, no problem. But it should be only to address the welfare of those communities and castes. It should not be used as a political tool for electioneering. And so we put a caution line for everyone,” said Ambekar.
Previously, in December 2023, the RSS had opposed the caste census.
“We do not see any benefits in it, instead see harm. It is the root of inequality and it is not justified to promote it,” said senior RSS leader Shridhar Ghadge at the time, as per Hindustan Times.
For the past one year, the Opposition has made caste their primary platform against the BJP. Rahul, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has been raising the issue of appropriate representation of Dalits, tribals, and other backward classes (OBCs) in government as well as private sectors. This is part of his ‘jitni aaabadi utna haq (your right as per your population)’ agenda where he plans to redistributes the national wealth as per a community’s share of the population.
“First, we will conduct a caste census…to know the exact population and status of backward castes, SCs, STs, minorities and other castes. After that, the financial and institutional survey will begin. Subsequently, we will take up the historic assignment to distribute the wealth of India, jobs and other welfare schemes to these sections based on their population,” said Rahul in April, as per The Times of India.
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‘If govt needs numbers, it can take them’: RSS softens stand on caste census
