Caste census: Politics of social justice and raising aspirations

It could be a coincidence that Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat had extensively toured Uttar Pradesh before he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on April 29.

- Sunita Aron

The government announced the caste census the next day.

Though Bhagwat's meetings across UP had ostensibly focused on the Sangh's mission to cultivate one follower in every home during the centenary year, the RSS chief had also laid emphasis on building social harmony in the state, saying their only caste is "Hindu."

Trusted RSS volunteers were deployed to collect feedback on issues of governance and caste conflicts. The Dalit outreach programme came in the backdrop of Karni Sena's attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) Dalit leader and Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman who made a controversial remark on Rajput ruler Rana Sanga.

Apparently, the Sangh Parivar's volte face on caste census was triggered by the realisation that the over-exploited Hindu-card may not help in pulling back the lower castes into the party, crucial to winning majority in the Lok Sabha. Their desertion of the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha election have made the Modi government dependent on key allies. Thus, the party needed an aspirational issue and the caste census seems a good fit for their plan.