Caste Census in India: A debate broke out over the caste census in India on Monday when Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar termed the exercise as a 'sensitive issue'. Following this, the Congress quickly went on an X, alleging that “RSS has openly opposed the caste census”.
On Monday, the RSS spokesperson addressed a gathering in Palakkad, Kerala, when he said, “In our Hindu society, we have a sensitive issue of our caste and caste relations… It is an important issue of our national unity and integrity, so it has to be taken up very seriously, not just for elections or politics…”
The caste census conducted by Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar in Bihar when he was part of the INDIA bloc is an opposition demand on a national scale.
On Monday, the RSS spokesperson added: “For all welfare activities which are specifically targeted at a particular community or caste which are lagging behind and need special attention, so if the government sometimes needs the figures, it can take them. It (the government) has taken (the figures) earlier also, it can take them, no problem.”
“But it (caste census) should be only to address the welfare of those communities and castes. It should not be used as a political tool for election campaigns. And so we are putting a warning line to everyone…” Sunil Ambekar added.
But later, Congress went to X to attack the far-right organisation, which is also called the ideological mentor of BJP. Congress posted: “RSS has openly opposed caste census. RSS says: caste census is not good for society. From this statement it is clear that BJP and RSS do not want to do caste census. They do not want to give rights to Dalits, backward classes and tribals. But put it on paper: there will be a caste census and Congress will do it.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been pushing for a caste census to ascertain the exact size of each caste community. Similar demands have been made by various political parties.
The caste census in Bihar led by CM Nitish Kumar revealed that nearly 80 percent of the population belongs to extremely backward classes.
What is RSS's position on caste census?
In addition to Sridhar Gadge's remarks in December 2023, the RSS has clarified its stand on the caste census and stated that it is not against a nationwide implementation of the census.
In December 2023, Sridhar Gadge had remarked that a nationwide caste census would be 'meaningless'. The RSS Sahasanghchalak for Vidarbha region had also added that the caste census 'would not be in the interest of the nation'.
“There should be no caste-based census. What will it achieve anyway?” Gadge told reporters in Nagpur. “A caste-based census will quantify the population on the basis of caste. But it will not be in the interest of the society or the nation.”
While differentiating between caste census and reservation, Gadge had said, “The two are not linked. The RSS supports reservation. It believes that reservation is necessary for the upliftment of disadvantaged sections.” Reservation can be continued even without conducting caste census, he added.