The BJP stands divided on the caste-based census issue. Defying party line, senior BJP leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday said he was opposed to such a demographic exercise as it would further divide the society. His views, however, were in tune with the RSS, which is also opposed to caste-based census. The RSS had,
in fact, asked the BJP to rethink its stand on the issue, after which the party suggested that an all-party meeting should be convened to discuss the caste census issue.
Admitting that there were different opinions within the party on this issue, Dr Joshi claimed the BJP’s official view will be decided later. He said deliberation on the issue should be done with a “cool mind”.
“My view is that caste census is not good. In my opinion, this will further disintegrate the society,” Dr Joshi said.
However, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had categorically stated in the recently concluded Budget session that her party favoured the caste census. She had said that caste-based census was the best source to collect information on the “poor,” which will serve as an estimate for laws like the Food Security Act.
Even her deputy Gopinath Munde had said that BJP was in favour of the caste census.
The former HRD minister, however, insisted that caste census would not solve any problem and it was not the right thing to do.
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Advani meets Manmohan
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
May 28: Senior BJP leader and NDA working chairman L.K. Advani on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr Advani conveyed to Dr Singh his concern over illegal Bangladeshi migrants getting enumerated in the ongoing census. The BJP had raised this issue in the recently concluded Budget Session also. Sources said the issue of caste-based census also came up during the meeting.