Caste politics is starting to dominate the country’s politics, which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh does not like at all. During the Lok Sabha elections, Singh may have withdrawn his hand for a while to teach a lesson, but now he is back in the limelight.
Just as Singh started the Ram Mandir movement for Ayodhya through the VHP i.e. Vishwa Hindu Parishad to bring the BJP to power at the Centre, a similar initiative is being taken up once again. This time again, Singh has roped in the VHP to help the BJP – and preparations are underway for the VHP to hold a Dharam Sammil soon.
Although it has been named as Dharma Sammilan, the only attempt during the campaign is to reach out to Dalit families, to reassure the distraught Dalits in the run-up to the polls.
If seen, this is a new attempt to politically deal with the opposition alliance India Bloc in the Lok Sabha elections. In fact, during the elections, the opposition ran the narrative that if the BJP came to power, it would abolish reservation by changing the constitution and it became an election issue. This is what the election results show.
And still the Leader of 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 said this after the central government took a step back on the lateral entry, i.e. is going to take the issue even further.
Several recent decisions of the central government, including the VHP’s Dharam Sammelan, also indicate that the Singhs and the BJP are afraid of the caste politics of the opposition parties. The Lok Sabha election results also show that due to the dominance of caste politics, the BJP, which chanted ‘this time we will cross 400’, fell well short of the majority figure. In an election year in which the Ram temple is to be built in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP should win a majority of the 80 seats. But it fell from 62 seats to 33 in 2019, while for the first time the Samajwadi Party reached 37 seats.
The biggest loss for the BJP was that out of 131 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, it got only 54 seats, as against 77 in 2019. Last time also BSP won 10 Lok Sabha seats, but this time it has reached zero balance. BSP leader Mayawati is also accused of helping BJP.
The Dalit community also seems to have bought into Mayawati’s allegations of being helpful to the BJP and turned to the Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance. Even in UP and in places where it played a decisive role.
This has started to scare not only the BJP but also the Sangh and that is the reason why a campaign is going to be started to address the grievances of the Dalits through Dharam Sammilan.
Why religion, why not Dalit conference?
It is interesting in itself that the campaign for Dalits is being described as a religious conference. Why? It is clear that the Sangh has to do caste politics with the help of religion. If the campaign had been called Dalit Sammelan, the issue would have been linked to caste politics.
However, this Dharma Sammilan will last for 15 days, during which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has to organize meals and religious discourses in SC-ST mahals and village slums across the country. During this campaign before Diwali, important issues related to the Hindu community will be discussed.
VHP’s program during the campaign will include food and religious sermons with the Sanda community. Speaking to Indian Express, VHP President Alok Kumar said that this is being done with the aim of spreading religious awareness in the society. They say, our idea is that instead of waiting for satsang people to come, one should go to satsang people.
VHP president Alok Kumar says caste and Hindutva dominated some places during the Lok Sabha elections, which is worrisome… The program in which saints will visit community areas and also on padayatras. will go, people will get a chance to have their darshan.
Why is BJP in defensive mode on caste census issue?
The caste census conducted in Bihar was initially rejected by the BJP, but was later clarified. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier reaction, Amit Shah also sought to clarify the BJP’s stand on the caste census as the final phase of the 2023 assembly polls approached.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is saying that there are only four castes in the country – poor, farmers, women and youth. From BJP’s programs to the budget, these four castes are mentioned.
On the issue of Congress conducting a caste census during the Chhattisgarh assembly elections in 2023, Amit Shah said, ‘We are a national political party… we do not do vote politics… after all discussions. .. Whatever happens, we will definitely make the appropriate decision.
Regarding the caste census, Amit Shah also gave an explanation from his side, ‘Bharti Janata Party never opposed it… But such matters have to be decided thoughtfully… at the right time. We will tell you when we come.’
Assembly elections were being held in five states at that time and Rahul Gandhi was promising to conduct a caste census at almost every rally if he came to power. A proposal for a caste census was also passed in the Congress executive earlier – but the Assembly results showed that the Congress’ promise of a caste census made no difference in the elections – and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. BJP will almost win the Sabha elections. Be sure about it. But the results have not come yet, the results have so far kept the BJP awake.
Recently, there have been at least two decisions by the BJP government at the Centre, which clearly show that the Singhs and the BJP are very afraid of the caste politics of the opposition – one in the case of lateral entry, and Second in the Supreme Court. -Supreme Court decision on ST reservation quota.
The opposition is setting the agenda, and the BJP is looking for escape routes?
After 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 lateral entry process should be based on the ideals of equality and justice enshrined in our Constitution. . Especially regarding reservation provisions.
Union Minister Ashwini Vishnu, presenting the government’s side on the issue, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always believed in social justice. And claimed that PM Modi’s schemes have improved the welfare of the weaker sections of our society… The decision to bring lateral entry under reservation principles shows PM Modi’s commitment to social justice.
After the government backed down, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social site that I am once again saying that we will ensure social justice on the basis of caste by breaking the 50% reservation limit.
Recently, the Supreme Court gave its decision to implement sub-quota in reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. BJP MPs from the SC-ST category met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the implementation of the court order. It was later reported that the Prime Minister had assured MPs that the central government was not currently considering the Supreme Court’s decision, and that BJP-ruled state governments had no intention of implementing it. keep The message to the people is that BJP governments will not make any changes regarding reservation and Rahul Gandhi is talking beyond that, he will be satisfied only by removing the 50% reservation limit.
The question is, has the central government started taking all these decisions under the pressure of Rahul Gandhi? Rahul Gandhi termed lateral entry as anti-national and against the spirit of social justice.
