RSS is against caste-based census: Bhaiyyaji Joshi

Updated on Sunday, May 23, 2010, 18:45 IST

Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has opposed the idea of caste-based census during the ongoing national census programme.

"The RSS is following the principles of late dalit leader Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Right from the beginning, RSS is in favour of a casteless society and any attempt to dilute it will hurt the sentiments of people," RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi told a press conference here today.

RSS has been striving to build a casteless society, he added.
Joshi said government should fix some criteria for giving reservation to other backward communities (OBCs). "There should not be any hurry and government should initiate a national debate on it. There needs to be a dialogue with various social groups in this regard," he said.

When his attention was drawn towards BJP's demand for inclusion of a provision of 'OBC category' in the national census records to identify OBC population, Joshi evaded a direct reply saying it was for the BJP to decide.

"There is no provision for identifying and separating the illegal migrants in the country while preparing the National Population Register (NPR). This will prove to be a threat to the national security and integrity," he said.

Preparation of a multi-utility identity card on the basis of NPR will be incorrect, he said. "Therefore, RSS demands that identity cards be issued only after verification of nationality and the nationality provision should be the basis for NPR," Joshi said.

PTI

Caste based census will lead to strengthening caste consciousness even to the extent of caste wars. The RSS has to be congratulated for taking a stand against caste based census. Where are the secularists, who at least on this issue should be on the same platform as the RSS? The truth is, just as caste has been turned into an anti Hindu phenomenon, secularism in India has become an anti-Hindu phenomenon. In fact, casteist leaders like Laloo, Mulayam and Mayavati are the biggest upholders of secularism!

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