The RSS has after a coordination meeting with the BJP flagged danger to “unity and integrity in society” because of “politicking” over a caste-based census, obliquely putting out its disapproval to such an exercise that the Opposition and some in the NDA have been assiduously demanding.

The demand for conducting a caste census has turned into a political issue, putting the Narendra Modi government under pressure following its loss of majority in the Lok Sabha elections.

Two Lohiaite allies — the JDU and the LJP — have joined the Opposition in demanding a caste census.

“It (caste census) is a very sensitive issue. We are concerned about unity and integrity in society,” RSS chief spokesperson Sunil Ambekar said on Monday when asked about the Opposition’s push for conducting such a census. He was addressing the media after a three-day coordination meeting of different Sangh-affiliated outfits and the BJP in Kerala’s Palakkad.

Ambekar said the Sangh favoured a caste census for welfare activities to help the government extend special attention to disadvantaged sections, stressing that it should not be used as a political tool.

“In our Hindu society, we have the sensitive issue of caste and caste relations. It is an important issue of our national unity and integrity and so it should be dealt with very seriously and not only for electioneering and politics,” Ambekar said.

“We are all for use of the (caste) count for welfare activities. For special attention to certain groups that are lagging, sometimes the government needs the numbers and we have no problem with it. But it should be for welfare only,” he added.

The position articulated by the RSS leader underlined the bind the saffron ecosystem finds itself in for not being able to firmly oppose the pitch for a caste census because of political compulsions.

The BJP has in the past suffered electoral damage because of the Opposition campaign portraying the party as anti-reservation. The BJP has said it is not against a caste census but has stopped short of presenting a road map.

“The BJP has never opposed this (caste census), but decisions have to be taken very thoughtfully. We will say at the appropriate time,” home minister Amit Shah had
said ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

On what the RSS meant when it said it backed a caste census for welfare activities but not for politics, a BJP leader said it was part of a plan to conduct a caste-based counting but not to publish the results for use by political parties.

“But it may not be possible in practical terms. How can the government conduct a caste census but not publish the results and use it only for targeted implementation of welfare schemes?” the BJP leader said.

The RSS leader also responded cautiously on the sub-classification of SCs and STs based on a recent Supreme Court judgment favouring it, keeping the focus on national unity.

“The RSS believes that constitutional reservation is very important. It has always been supported by the RSS. What was discussed by the court was a very sensitive issue.... A call should be taken by the government with consensus from all the communities concerned,” Ambekar said.