Caught in a row, RSS clarifies that it is not against a caste census

RSS supports upliftment of society, opposes disruption of social harmony, backs reservations for backward classes.

Days after one of its senior functionaries opposed a caste census, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Thursday said that any such census should be used for the upliftment of society, emphasising that political parties must ensure that social harmony is not disrupted due to any reason.

The statement, being seen as a damage control attempt, came after Shridhar Gadge, Sah Sanghachalak of Vidarbha region, questioned the need for a caste census. He said that while it may benefit some people politically, it was not good for national unity.

“We feel that there should be no caste-based census, because there is no reason to do it. What will we achieve by doing the caste-based census? It is wrong,” said Mr. Gadge.

Clarifying the Sangh’s official stand through social media, the organisation’s head of publicity Sunil Ambekar said that the RSS was continuously working towards its goal of creating a Hindu society free from any kind of discrimination and inequality.

“It is true that due to various historical reasons, many sections of the society have been left out, from an economic, social and educational point of view. For their upliftment, governments are planning various schemes from time to time and the RSS has always supported the same,” he said.

He added that the RSS was of the opinion that the caste survey should be used for the overall development of society and that all parties should ensure that it does not harm social harmony and unity.

The Congress and some other Opposition parties have been demanding a caste census, which had also become a poll issue during the recent Assembly elections. On Thursday, Congress took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise Mr. Gadge’s statement.