Caste politics has started to dominate the country’s politics, which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh does not like at all. During the Lok Sabha elections, the Sangh may have stepped back for a while to teach a lesson, but now it is back on the front again.
Just like the RSS had launched the Ram Mandir movement for Ayodhya through the VHP or Vishwa Hindu Parishad to bring BJP to power at the centre, a similar measure is being adopted once again. This time too, the RSS has put the VHP forward to help the BJP – and preparations are on to hold a Dharma Sammelan soon from the VHP’s side.
Though the name is Dharma Sammelan, the only effort during the campaign is to reach out to Dalit families so that the Dalits who were upset during the elections can be appeased again.
If seen, this is a new attempt to deal politically with the opposition alliance INDIA Block in the Lok Sabha elections. Actually, during the elections, the opposition had run a narrative that if BJP comes to power, it will change the constitution and end reservation, and this became an election issue. The election results show this.
And even now, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is constantly repeating that he will protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs. Rahul Gandhi has said this after the central government has taken a step back on the lateral entry – meaning, this matter is going to be taken even further.
Many recent decisions of the central government, including the VHP’s Dharma Sammelan, also indicate that the RSS and BJP are terrified of the caste politics of the opposition parties. The results of the Lok Sabha elections also show that due to the dominance of caste politics, the BJP, which gave the slogan ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’, fell far short of the majority figure. In the election year in which the Ram temple was built in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP should have won most of the 80 seats. But it fell from 62 seats in 2019 to 33, while for the first time the Samajwadi Party reached 37 seats.
The biggest loss for the BJP was that out of the 131 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, it could get only 54 seats, whereas in 2019 this number was 77. Last time BSP also won 10 Lok Sabha seats, but this time it has reached zero balance. BSP leader Mayawati has also been accused of helping the BJP.
It seems that the Dalit community also believed the allegations against Mayawati of being a supporter of the BJP, and they turned to the Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance. In UP as well and only in those places where they were in a decisive role.
This issue has now started scaring not only the BJP but also the Sangh, and this is why a campaign is going to be launched to reach out to the homes of the Dalits through religious conferences and to remove their resentment.
It is also interesting in itself that the campaign being run for Dalits is being called a religious conference. Why? It is clear that the Sangh has to do caste politics with the help of religion. If this campaign had been named Dalit Conference, then the issue would have been linked to caste politics.
However, this religious conference will last for 15 days, and during this time Vishwa Hindu Parishad will organize meals and religious discourses in SC-ST mohallas and slums of villages across the country. Important issues related to the Hindu community will be discussed during this campaign before Diwali.
During the campaign, VHP will organize meals and religious discourses with the community. Talking to the Indian Express, VHP President Alok Kumar said that this is being done with the aim of spreading religious awareness in the society. He says, our idea is that instead of waiting for people to come for satsang, satsang should go to the people.
VHP president Alok Kumar says, during the Lok Sabha elections, caste dominated Hindutva at some places, which is a matter of concern… This programme, in which the Sant Samaj will visit the areas and also undertake padayatra, will give people a chance to see them.
The BJP had initially rejected the caste census conducted in Bihar, but later clarifications were also given. After the first reaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the last phase of the 2023 assembly elections, Amit Shah also tried to clarify the BJP’s stand on the caste census.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying that there are only four castes in the country – poor, farmers, women and youth. From BJP’s programs to the budget, we have been hearing mention of these four castes.
On the issue of Congress conducting caste census during the Chhattisgarh assembly elections in 2023, Amit Shah said, ‘We are a national political party… we do not do vote-bank politics… after discussing with everyone… we will definitely take the right decision.’
Amit Shah had then given a clarification from his side regarding the caste census, ‘The Bharatiya Janata Party never opposed it… but decisions on such issues have to be taken after careful consideration… we will tell you when the right time comes.’
At that time, assembly elections were being held in five states, and Rahul Gandhi was promising to conduct caste census in almost every rally if he came to power. Before that, a resolution was also passed in the Congress Working Committee to conduct caste census – but the results of the assembly showed that the Congress’ promise to conduct caste census did not make any difference in the elections – and in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP almost became relaxed about this issue. But till the time the results were not out, the results have kept the BJP awake till now.
Recently, there are at least two such decisions of the BJP government at the Centre, which clearly show that the RSS and BJP are badly scared of the caste politics of the opposition – one is the issue of lateral entry, and second, the Supreme Court’s decision on quota within quota in SC-ST reservation.
After the controversy over lateral entry for 45 posts by the Union Public Service Commission, the Central Government has now withdrawn the advertisement. In a letter sent by the Union Ministry of Personnel and Training to UPSC Chairperson Preeti Sudan, it is written that in the view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the process of lateral entry should be based on the ideals of equality and justice enshrined in our Constitution. Especially regarding the provisions of reservation.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, while presenting the government’s stand on this issue, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always believed in social justice. And claimed that Prime Minister Modi’s schemes have accelerated the welfare of the weaker sections of our society… The decision to bring lateral entry under the principles of reservation shows Prime Minister Modi’s dedication towards social justice.
After the government’s step back, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social site X, We will protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs… We will foil the conspiracies of BJP like lateral entry at all costs… I am saying once again that by breaking the 50 percent reservation limit, we will ensure social justice on the basis of caste count.
Recently, the Supreme Court had given the decision to implement sub-quota in reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. BJP’s SC-ST MPs had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the implementation of the court’s order. Later it was told that the Prime Minister has assured the MPs that the Central Government is not considering the Supreme Court’s decision at the moment, and the BJP-ruled state governments also have no intention of implementing it – overall, the attempt was to give the message to the people that the BJP governments will not make any changes in relation to reservation – and Rahul Gandhi is talking beyond that, he will be satisfied only after the limit of 50 percent reservation is abolished>
The question is whether the central government has started taking all these decisions under pressure from Rahul Gandhi? Rahul Gandhi had called lateral entry anti-national and against the spirit of social justice.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)