Mumbai: Following RSS’s objections over caste-based census, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is on the defensive and said the decision on caste-based census will be taken after consulting alliance partners.
Elected representatives of Maharashtra BJP and Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had gone to the RSS seat last Tuesday, where RSS Vidarbha region chief Shridhar Gadge, during his brainstorming session, had said that the RSS was against it. Census on the basis of castes.
Traditionally, during the winter session, elected representatives of the BJP visit the RSS headquarters, where they receive guidance on social issues.
Gadge said that census on the basis of castes is against the national interest, hence the elected representatives should not insist on this demand. He focused his speech on five focal points which are social equality, caste-based census, indigenous people, family values and environmental issues.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday visited the RSS seat to pay tribute to RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.
Commenting on RSS’s objections to caste-based census, CM Eknath Shinde said he will consult his alliance partner in this regard and take a decision.
However, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said that BJP’s parent organization RSS is against caste-based census as it is against reservation. Let us tell you that RSS-BJP want to end reservation, hence they are not in favor of caste based census.
“RSS BJP wants to attack the backward caste, hence it is not in favor of reservation. Reservation is an affirmative action that has been effectively implemented in many developed countries such as the United States and Europe. When our government comes to power, we will definitely conduct a case-by-case census and the benefits of reservation will be given according to the population of that particular caste”, Patole said.
Interestingly, in the BJP-led Mahayuti government, elected representatives of BJP and Shiv Sena visited the RSS seat, but the NCP faction led by Deputy Minister Ajit Pawar skipped the event. Ajit Pawar’s opinion on caste based census is also different from RSS.
PCN faction spokesperson Ajit Pawar and MLC Amol Mitkari said, “It is true that BJP had also invited PCN, but no one went there. We have the right to live and visit there. This is correct.” Request of each party. About going or not going to a certain place”.
