RSS says, not against caste census; was its stance same in the past?

Jabalpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Saturday claimed the organisation was not opposed to caste-based census but asserted it should not be politically motivated and must serve the purpose of identifying socially and economically backward communities for their progress, PTI reported.

To a query on caste enumeration, Hosabale said the Supreme Court had already observed that it could be undertaken if necessary.

"Such data is useful for welfare schemes. It should not be used for political purposes as that will divide society. Some castes have remained backward and need empowerment. If data is required to ensure the benefits of government schemes reach them, it should be collected," he said.

The RSS does not function on caste lines, he claimed and said that wherever the data is useful for the country, it should be gathered, he pointed out.

However, before the 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stand was that caste census is a sign of the “Urban Naxal” thinking of his opposition parties, according to The Wire.

The Wire writes that Hindutva, at its core, as articulated by the RSS and BJP, aspires to unify Hindus under a single ethno-national identity, minimising and obliterating historical divisions such as caste. The ideology projects a vision of Hindu society where caste distinctions are either downplayed or ignored, aiming for a consolidated Hindu vote bank that transcends traditional social hierarchies.

In May this year, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala pointed out that the BJP was always against the caste census. He reminded that the BJP and the RSS have vehemently opposed the caste census from the very beginning, from public forums to the Supreme Court. Slamming the saffron party, Surjewala said that the BJP was always against the Mandal Commission and PM Modi’s slogan ‘Bantenge to katenge’ was against the caste census, The Statesman reported.