RSS softens base on caste demographics–

In an evident conditioning of base on caste demographics, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has claimed the federal government might accumulate caste-related information if called for.

Over the previous one year, the caste demographics has actually become among one of the most politically-charged concerns. The Congress and Opposition’s INDIA bloc campaigned on a system of caste demographics. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the project with the twin pledges of a caste demographics and the nationwide redistribution of riches according to the searchings for of the caste demographics.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in addition to its ideological moms and dad RSS originally opposed the caste demographics, they have actually softened their stand in current months. The conditioning of the stand comes as a minimum of 3 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 actually required caste demographics.

Now, leading RSS leader Sunil Ambekar has actually claimed that the organisation has “no problem” if the federal government intends to perform a caste demographics to obtain numbers for well-being functions.

Speaking at an RSS conclave in Kerala’s Palakkad, Ambekar warned that the caste demographics need to not be politicised and need to just be utilized for developing functions.

“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,” claimed Ambekar.

#WATCH|Palakkad, Kerala: On caste-based demographics, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar claims, “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… pic.twitter.com/cJDkAe4Vg4

— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2024

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.