BJP to take a relook at caste-based census issue

The Congress-led UPA government was also not in favour of the caste census but agreed to it after being pressurised by three OBC leaders—Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Yadav.

With an eye on the OBC vote-bank, the BJP was recently  veering towards the caste census in the country. BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde has publicly approved the caste-based census.

However, RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi is against any move to classify people on caste lines which, he thinks, “will deal a blow to social harmony and fabric.”
“The recent demand for identifying people on caste basis, especially with a view to ascertaining OBCs strength, will cause social friction and nullify all efforts of RSS and other social organisations to bring about social harmony in the country,” said Joshi in Nagpur.
The RSS leader said his organisation was not against granting quota to the OBCs. “But that issue needs to be debated at the national level. An OBC in one state does not enjoy the status in another state. Now, there is no fixed and defined criterion for OBC classification. The criterion need to be standardised before the next step of granting privileges is taken up,” said Joshi.