Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously spoken about four categories he described as marginalized in Indian society: youth, women, poor and farmers. File PM PM modi interacting with recipients “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra”. | Photo Credit: PTI
The decision of the Union’s cabinet to proceed with caste enumerations in the decadal census potentially weakened significant opposition board and reflected the calculations of the government led by the BJP on identifying dominant and dominant communities within the caste and its potential future consequences.
The Congress Party has been demanding a census for some time and such exercises have been announced in the countries of the controlled congress, including Karnataka and Telangana, where surveys were reportedly completed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously spoken about four categories he described as marginalized in Indian society: youth, women, poor and farmers. This problem has the potential to be significant in the upcoming public opinion surveys in Bihar.
The announcement of the decision of the Department, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw referred to attempts by state governments led by Congress or other opposition parties and stated that some of these exercises had done well, while others “created doubts in society”. He added that the decision to include the caste in the decadal census “strengthens the social and economic structure of our society”.
While immediate political considerations included an important opposition board neutralization, this step has different, longer -term consequences.
In an interview with Hindu, political scientist Badri Narayan, author of Bahajan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi RAM, he said that the list of census would probably lead to new identities and aspirations. He developed that this claim of marginalized could initially occur independently, but eventually would join larger groups and open the ways for new political negotiations, coalitions and party policy.
“There will be a claim, rupture and similar development and open up space for political negotiations,” Narayan said. He added, however, that caste enumerations would also lead to “identifying and dominant and dominant, which will have a positive effect in terms of well -being.” ”
The experience of congress in Karnataka, where dominant communities such as Vokkaligas and Lingayats, have caused problems related to national caste survey, serve as an example.
The government also emphasized the reservations for the economically weaker sections (EWS) between the general category within its goal for all partitions “without the way of stress in any part of society”, which potentially solves concerns that may occur between the upper castes.
Political scientist Ashwani Kumar noted: “The narration promoted by the government is therefore not for fragmentation, but for harmony by sharing power.” He said it would be a unique opportunity to better share power and deepen democracy.
The list of caste is therefore likely to have long -term consequences and the decision represents the government and BJP, which give the calculated risk, the outcome of which needs to be seen.
Published – April 30, 2025 22:02
