New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has expressed a nuanced position on the issue of caste census in India, highlighting concerns over its potential misuse for political gains. While the organisation does not oppose the idea of a caste census itself, it is firmly against its use as an electoral or political tool.
The RSS considers the caste census a serious and sensitive matter, particularly in terms of maintaining national unity. The organisation believes that such a census should not be reduced to a mere instrument for election campaigns or political manoeuvring. Instead, the focus should be on fostering social harmony and unity across all communities.
According to RSS campaign chief Sunil Ambekar, the organisation’s primary concern is that the caste census should not be employed as a political strategy. He clarified that the RSS does not oppose the census if it is aimed at the welfare and upliftment of the backward and marginalised sections of society. The Sangh has emphasised that any initiative to address social inequalities should be conducted with the intention of improving the lives of disadvantaged communities, rather than serving electoral interests.
Sources within the RSS suggest that in a recent coordination meeting, the organisation’s chief, Mohan Bhagwat, reiterated that political entities may attempt to exploit the caste census for their gain by dividing society along caste lines. Bhagwat stated that while political parties might continue to call for social categorisation for their reasons, it is the responsibility of the government and the judiciary to determine the necessity and implementation of such measures.
The RSS, according to these sources, intends to adhere to its foundational mission of promoting social cohesion and unity. Bhagwat underlined the need to continuously work towards eliminating social hierarchies and disparities, emphasising the organisation’s duty to bring all sections of society together for the greater good of the nation.
Overall, the RSS appears to be treading a middle path on the caste census issue. It has neither fully endorsed nor opposed the idea, instead calling for a nationwide public awareness campaign that promotes social harmony and brotherhood in the context of the census.
The stance of the RSS reflects its broader ideological position of fostering unity among all communities while cautioning against any form of divisive politics that could undermine social cohesion. As the debate around the caste census continues, the RSS’s views are likely to shape the discourse in significant ways.
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