A way out seems to have opened up for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was caught between its own stand in Parliament favouring a caste-based census and that of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which had come out strongly against the proposal.
With four days to go before the BJP leadership responds to the government's query on its stand — which it wants from the party in writing — it seems the RSS may not, after all, stand in the BJP's way of its favouring a caste-based census.
At a meeting of Sangh Parivar associations chaired by the RSS two days ago, members from different Sangh affiliates expressed their views in some detail on the caste question. The meeting was of its cultural department — and it was decided that there might be no harm done if an “all-caste census” was undertaken.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
RSS shows BJP the way out on caste census
Caste census: BJP, RSS narrow down differences
NEW DELHI: Narrowing down their differences, the BJP and the RSS may agree on the inclusion of the caste column in the Census 2011.
According to sources, while earlier the RSS was opposed to the inclusion of caste as well as the OBC column in the census, it is now veering around the view that it may agree on caste, but not the OBC column. The final view would be taken at the core group meeting of the party, convened by BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Friday. What compels the party to take a stand on the issue urgently is that it has to send in its views to the GoM on caste census, headed by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee by Saturday.
The issue of caste census figured in the BJP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, chaired by parliamentary party chairman L K Advani.
Two party MPs, Raghunandan Sharma and Sumitra Mahajan, who attended a Sangh Parivar brainstorming recently, informed the party leadership that the Sangh view was not to accept an OBC-based census, as it would create confusion. If the choice is on having columns for the SC, ST and the OBC, or merely to have a caste column, the party should go in for the latter option of seeking a caste column.
The Sangh view is that there is no uniformity in the OBC list. Naik, for instance is tribal in Maharashtra, while in other states it is listed under OBC. As such, it may only lead to greater confusion.
Initially, when the BJP supported the caste-based census, the RSS openly made known its opposition to it. The RSS opposition was articulated by a top RSS functionary Bhaiyaji Joshi. After that, there were several meetings within the party to sort out the issue. The Sangh also has been discussing the issue. Now that the Sangh has indicated its line, the BJP is expected to toe the same.
In his letter of July 7 to Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Pranab Mukherjee indicated a four-week timeframe for the BJP to respond by sending in the party’s views to the GoM on the issue.
So, the BJP has to respond by August 7. The GoM was set up after the Union Cabinet failed to arrive at a view on the issue. The GoM, at its first meeting on July 1, decided to seek the views of the political parties represented in Parliament, before finalising its report to the Union Cabinet.
“The replies received from the political parties will be taken into account by the GoM before it submits its report to the Cabinet,” Pranab Mukherjee informed Sushma Swaraj.
According to sources, while earlier the RSS was opposed to the inclusion of caste as well as the OBC column in the census, it is now veering around the view that it may agree on caste, but not the OBC column. The final view would be taken at the core group meeting of the party, convened by BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Friday. What compels the party to take a stand on the issue urgently is that it has to send in its views to the GoM on caste census, headed by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee by Saturday.
The issue of caste census figured in the BJP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, chaired by parliamentary party chairman L K Advani.
Two party MPs, Raghunandan Sharma and Sumitra Mahajan, who attended a Sangh Parivar brainstorming recently, informed the party leadership that the Sangh view was not to accept an OBC-based census, as it would create confusion. If the choice is on having columns for the SC, ST and the OBC, or merely to have a caste column, the party should go in for the latter option of seeking a caste column.
The Sangh view is that there is no uniformity in the OBC list. Naik, for instance is tribal in Maharashtra, while in other states it is listed under OBC. As such, it may only lead to greater confusion.
Initially, when the BJP supported the caste-based census, the RSS openly made known its opposition to it. The RSS opposition was articulated by a top RSS functionary Bhaiyaji Joshi. After that, there were several meetings within the party to sort out the issue. The Sangh also has been discussing the issue. Now that the Sangh has indicated its line, the BJP is expected to toe the same.
In his letter of July 7 to Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Pranab Mukherjee indicated a four-week timeframe for the BJP to respond by sending in the party’s views to the GoM on the issue.
So, the BJP has to respond by August 7. The GoM was set up after the Union Cabinet failed to arrive at a view on the issue. The GoM, at its first meeting on July 1, decided to seek the views of the political parties represented in Parliament, before finalising its report to the Union Cabinet.
“The replies received from the political parties will be taken into account by the GoM before it submits its report to the Cabinet,” Pranab Mukherjee informed Sushma Swaraj.
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