RSS Cautions BJP Over Caste Census, Calls It ‘Sensitive Issue’

Palakkad: Highlighting the “sensitivity” of the caste census matter, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Monday said that the caste survey should be exercised with caution and should not just be seen as only a “political tool”. 

Addressing the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Samanvay Baithak which is underway at Palakkad, RSS Prachar Pramukh (chief spokesperson) Sunil Ambekar, said, “The government should get it [caste census] done for data purposes. Caste reactions are a sensitive issue in our society, and they are important for national integration. However, the caste census should not be used for election campaigning and electoral purposes."

Ambedkar said that this caste census has to be exercised with extreme caution. 

"This is a sensitive issue of caste and caste relations and should be dealt with very seriously. This is not just for election campaigning," he added. 

Congress Hits Out At RSS 

In the aftermath of remarks made by RSS over Caste census, Congress said that Sangh Parivar does not want Dalits and OBCs to get their deserved rights. 

“RSS has openly opposed the caste census. RSS says- caste census is not good for the society.

It is clear from this statement that BJP and RSS do not want to conduct caste census. They do not want to give Dalits, backward classes and tribals their rights. But keep it in writing – there will be a caste census and Congress will get it done,” Congress posted on X. 

Congress Stand on Caste Census

In the 2024 general elections, the Congress party pledged to introduce a constitutional amendment aimed at increasing the Supreme Court-imposed 50 percent cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Additionally, the party committed to carrying out a comprehensive Socio-Economic and Caste Census to document various castes and sub-castes and assess their socio-economic conditions.