Caste-based census and social harmony are incongruous: RSS

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE legislators of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some of Shiv Sena (Shinde) legislators visited Smruti Mandir in Reshimbag here and paid tributes to Dr K B Hedgewar, founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Tuesday. While addressing them on RSS’ focus areas, a top RSS functionary said that caste-based census and social harmony (Samarasta) were incongruous. BJP-Sena legislators visited Smruti Mandir and paid tributes to Dr Hedgewar as well as Golwalkar Guruji. Shridhar Gadge, Vidarbha Prant Sah-Sanghchalak of RSS, addressed the legislators on this occasion. Rajesh Loya, Mahanagar Sanghchalak; Atul Moghe, Vidarbha Prant Karyavah; and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, State President of BJP were present prominently.

 

In his address, Gadge reiterated the focus areas of the RSS as highlighted by Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of RSS, earlier. In the context of efforts needed to create a harmonious society without inequalities, Gadge said that caste-based census was not a good idea. Later, talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Gadge elaborated that caste discrimination had led to creation of inequalities in society. To address the inequalities, there was reservation as per Constitutional mechanism. “It will continue as a Constitutional mechanism for the deprived. However, caste-based census is more of political and it may create rift in the society. If caste-based census is done, when its results will be out, it may create new inferiority or superiority complexes based on population size,” Gadge said.

 

The British rulers had conducted caste-based census as they followed the policy of ‘divide and rule’. But, he said, present-day India need not follow any practice that will create disharmony in the society. In RSS, he added, no one followed caste discrimination. Gadge’s remarks in address to the visiting legislators created quite a stir on Tuesday. For, Maharashtra as well as various parts of the country have been witnessing agitations from different groups demanding reservations based on caste-based census. There have been demands from political parties also for caste-based census. Gadge referred to some other aspects also in his address to the legislators. These included social equality, family values, environmental balance, civic duties. Also, he said, he referred to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and RSS’ emphasis on own (Bharatiya) language (Swa-Bhasha), own products (Swa-Deshi), self-reliance (Swawalamban), own costumes (Swa-Bhusha).