Caste survey: Dharmendra Pradhan assures fair play, says OBC Muslims will be supported just like others

The Narendra Modi government's decision to include a caste survey in the forthcoming Census has BJP critics terming it a U-turn and the Congress claiming that its pressure forced the ruling party's hand. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan disagrees and underlines that for the BJP and the Modi dispensation, affirmative action has never been about vote-bank politics.Pradhan discusses why the BJP changed its stand on the caste survey, the intricacies of the exercise, and why the survey must focus on 'backwardness' rather than 'religion'. Excerpts from an exclusive interview with Anilesh S. Mahajan:advertisementQ. The caste survey will now be part of the census. Some see it as the BJP's U-turn on the issue.A. For us, social justice is not a political issue but social responsibility. Affirmative action isn't about vote-bank politics. It's about accountability and justice. We gave constitutional backing to the OBC Commission in 2018. Earlier, the 27 per cent OBC quota was only partially implemented. Prime Minister Modi brought in a law in 2019, ensuring a 100-point institutional roster to be followed till the quota is filled. This isn't vote-bank politics; it's our commitment.
Q. Critics argue the caste survey may play a divisive role.A. Social harmony requires systemic reform. You can't undo centuries of deprivation in just 78 years of independence. A caste survey will help understand the exact composition of society, which in turn enables better policy-making.advertisementQ. What is the BJP's view on the Rohini Commission report and sub-categorisation within OBCs?A. There are some models in the states. In Bihar, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government has done the sub-categorisation. Some southern states have also done it. The concept of 'creamy layer' is there as well. But first, we should have the basic database—the Rohini Commission is part of that process. Sub-categorisation will help identify the most backward within the OBCs, ensuring better-targeted support.Q. How will the BJP address concerns about OBC Muslims or Pasmanda Muslims?A. The Constitution recognises backwardness, not religion. OBC Muslims will be identified and supported just like others.Q. Some states did caste surveys, but Muslims were treated as a separate bloc for reservations. Is that problematic?A. Surveys must focus on backwardness, not religion. Some states have tried clubbing Muslims separately, which the Supreme Court has objected to. The idea is not to fragment society but to identify and support the truly deprived—regardless of religion.Q. What's your view on state-level caste surveys, such as in Karnataka?A. Many caste surveys were flawed and driven by political motives. Karnataka is an example where even the state doesn't know what to do with the data.advertisementQ. Even the Sangh Parivar has concerns that caste surveys may threaten Hindu unity or promote identity politics.A. Our society is built on five pillars—language, caste, religion, geography and economic status. Acknowledging these realities doesn't weaken unity. We aspire for a society with samajik samrasta (social harmony). Even among savarnas, PM Modi ensured that the EWS (economically weaker sections) get the benefits of reservation. Our initiatives are aimed at removing poverty, not reshaping cultural identities.Q. The BJP's core support base has traditionally been upper castes, but now you have growing support from Dalits and OBCs. What changed?A. For decades, the BJP and its earlier avatar Jana Sangh worked in communities through roti-beti relations. Even in the 1990s, we had leaders such as Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti and Shivraj Singh Chouhan who became pillars of the party. Our organisational strength and clarity of purpose have helped gain trust across all sections.Q. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi claim their relentless campaign compelled the Modi government to back down and agree on doing a caste survey.A. The Congress has always used backward communities as vote-banks, not empowered them. Just compare our track-record with theirs. No one takes Rahul Gandhi's rhetoric seriously.advertisementSubscribe to India Today MagazineTune InMust Watch

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