Nagpur: Two days after a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary Shridhar Gadge said that caste census and social harmony were ‘incongruous’, RSS has issued an official statement saying that caste census should be utilised for overall development of society. Against this backdrop, Ambekar’s statement comes as an official stand of RSS on the issue.
Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS, in a statement issued on Thursday said, “Debate on caste census has started again in the past some time. We are of the opinion that this should be utilised for overall development of the society, and while doing so, all parties should ensure that social harmony and unity does not get disturbed for any reason.”
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03 April 2025
Ambekar said that caste census should not become a tool to create rift in society and all political parties should ensure that. “Sangh supports measures to empower the underprivileged. Let’s not rupture the fault lines in Hindu society. RSS is against politicisation of caste census, he asserted.
Ambekar also posted a statement on these lines on X. “For some time now, the debate over caste-based census has been revived. We are of the opinion that this should be used for society’s comprehensive development and that all sides should ensure that social harmony and integration is not disrupted under any circumstance,” Ambedkar said, a formulation which was interpreted by BJP as saying that Sangh was not opposed to the idea of caste count per se.
According to Ambekar, RSS has been working continuously for the creation of a Hindu society based on harmony and social justice and without any discrimination and inequality. “It is true that many sections of society remained economically, socially, and educationally backward due to various historical reasons. Different Governments introduce several provisions and schemes for their development, uplift, and empowerment. RSS fully supports these measures,” he stated.
Ambekar’s statement has come a couple of days after a senior RSS functionary Shridhar Gadge, Vidarbha Prant Sah-Sanghchalak, had made a statement that caste census and social harmony were ‘incongruous’. Gadge had made the statement while addressing a group of legislators of Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), who had visited Smruti Mandir, Reshimbag, in Nagpur, during Winter Session of Maharashtra Legislature.
Gadge had also mentioned that caste-based census demand was more political and it might create rift in the society. It was conducted by the British rulers and the practice need not be followed in present-day India, he had observed. Gadge’s statement created quite a row with leaders of Congress and other parties mounting criticism.
