Do BJP and RSS Truly Support Social Justice?

Mandya (Karnataka), May 2 (NationPress) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Friday that neither the BJP nor the RSS advocates for social justice or shows any commitment towards it.

"Examining their hundred-year legacy, it is evident that the RSS has continually opposed social justice initiatives. From the era of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar’s Miller Commission to the present day, they have consistently resisted such measures. With the RSS set to celebrate its centenary in 2025, they have never embraced the concept of reservation," he remarked during a media interaction in Srirangapatna taluk, Mandya district.

Siddaramaiah emphasized the necessity of conducting a social, educational, and economic survey.

“For the past two years, Rahul Gandhi has been persistently advocating for this cause. It was upon his insistence that this topic was included in the Congress manifesto. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge even communicated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about it. Following pressure from these leaders, the Central government has now announced a caste census. However, they have yet to provide a timeline, claiming it will be part of the general census," he explained.

He further highlighted the urgency of raising the reservation ceiling through a constitutional amendment.

“The Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench has determined that reservation should not surpass 50 percent. But if reservation is limited to 50 percent, how can it reflect the population ratio?” he questioned.

Reservation for backward classes is not only essential but imperative, according to him.

"It is vital to allocate reservations to those who are socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged. Only when every individual is socially and economically empowered can we progress towards creating an equitable society. This is the only way to eliminate caste distinctions," he asserted.

He also called for the inclusion of reservations in the private sector.

“We must remove the 50 percent reservation cap and extend it to the private sector as well,” he urged, adding that he plans to discuss this matter with the Prime Minister.

Siddaramaiah insisted that a definitive timeline for the caste-based survey must be established, and along with implementing the recommendations of the Justice Rohini Commission, a thorough social, educational, and economic survey must be conducted.

Responding to inquiries about the caste census, Home Minister G. Parameshwara remarked: "The last caste census was conducted in 1931. Following that, those who believed in eradicating the caste system decided to halt it. However, a caste census was recently conducted in Karnataka. Our aim was to integrate oppressed communities into the mainstream. Therefore, while defining the terms of reference, we stressed the importance of examining their socio-economic and educational conditions."

“As part of this process, the enumeration of various communities was also undertaken. It is a positive development that a national caste census will now be conducted. Rahul Gandhi has long advocated for this. Even during the Karnataka initiative, he insisted on the necessity of such a census nationwide," he said.

Parameshwara pointed out that the Chief Minister has indicated that upcoming budget plans will be based on the recommendations from the caste census report.

When asked if the state’s caste census report would become obsolete with the Centre’s national exercise, Parameshwara assured that there is no reason for concern. "The state’s report will act as a supplementary document," he affirmed.