Will PM 'hijack' another Congress guarantee and conduct caste census: Jairam Ramesh

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday said it has no objection to collecting data on specific communities or castes, provided that the information is used for their welfare and not exploited as a political tool for electoral gains.

New Delhi: With the RSS making it clear that it has no objections to conducting Caste Census, Congress on Tuesday wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will "hijack" one of its guarantees and conduct the caste enumeration.

The party also questioned the RSS why it has "maintained a mysterious silence" on the need for a Constitutional amendment to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations for Dalits, tribals and OBCs.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said that the RSS should "clearly tell the country whether it is in favour or against" caste census.

The comments came as the RSS on Monday said it has no objection to collecting data on specific communities or castes, provided that the information is used for their welfare and not exploited as a political tool for electoral gains.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the RSS' "preaching" on the Caste Census has raised "some fundamental" questions, including whether it has the veto power on the exercise.

"Who is the RSS to give permission for caste census? What does the RSS mean when it says caste census should not be misused for electioneering? Is it to be a judge or umpire?...Now that the RSS has given the green signal, will the non-biological Prime Minister hijack another guarantee of Congress and conduct a caste census?" Ramesh posted on 'X'.

Hours after RSS made it clear its stand, Kharge on Monday night posted on 'X', "Is the Sangh Parivar, which is in favour of 'Manusmriti' instead of the Constitution of the country, worried about the participation of Dalits, tribals, backward classes and poor-deprived society or not?"

The issue of Caste Census has been highlighted by the I.N.D.I.A bloc, especially during the Lok Sabha campaign which appeared to have a resonance among voters, especially those from backward communities. The BJP had subtly acknowledged the campaign as one of the reasons for its unimpressive numbers in the Lok Sabha.

On August 29, Opposition I.N.D.I.A MPs and a JD(U) lawmaker, an NDA ally, demanded the inclusion of Caste Census in the subjects for discussion in the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes headed by BJP MP Ganesh Singh.