Latest news with #BahujanSamaj
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maya slams oppn to Babasaheb statue in MP
Lucknow: Referring to the opposition over the installation of an Ambedkar statue at the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court by a section of lawyers, national president said that lawyers with a casteist mindset should know that the Bahujan Samaj, which has been oppressed for years, now wants its respect. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She also requested the Madhya Pradesh governor, CM and high court to intervene in the matter and allow the installation of the statue. In a series of posts on X, on Friday, the BSP chief said, "It was the high court that gave permission to install Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's statue at the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court on the demand of the lawyers there, and through the financial support provided by them. It was on the directions of the court that the spot was chosen, and the platform and the statue were readied." However, the installation of the statue is being opposed by a few lawyers due to their casteist thinking, said Mayawati, adding, "There was no action taken against them despite their instigating comments on social media. Those who oppose Babasaheb will have to understand that the Bahujan Samaj, which has been oppressed for years, now wants to get its respect." The former UP CM urged the governor, CM and the HC to remove the roadblocks in the installation of the statue and to get "the creator of the Constitution, Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's statue installed respectfully and immediately in the Gwalior bench of the MP high court."
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will the Caste Census Expose the Truth About OBC and SC/ST Representation in India?
Published : May 14, 2025 16:27 IST - 7 MINS READ The Narendra Modi government's decision to include caste enumeration in the next decennial census may have been driven by electoral calculations, but there is no denying the fact that it is long overdue. It is unfortunate that the socio-economic data of the caste census that was conducted in 2011 is yet to be made public. Within public discourse, the argument for a caste census has already been made, along with the need to enumerate caste in order to better understand its dynamics and how social relations unfold across different demographic contexts. The need to discuss the significance of the caste census also comes from the 2024 Supreme Court judgment on Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) subcategorisation. Without data, opening up the category of subcategorisation will only lead to miscalculation. Subcategorisation is a sensitive issue, and will require meticulous evaluation of the representational gaps that exist within sub-caste groups. Thus, a caste census is indispensable not only to understand the Other Backward Class (OBC) category but also how resources are differentially allocated within SC/ST groups and the disproportion that exists within caste categories. The agenda of a caste census has been central to India's social justice movement since its inception. Some of the most vocal proponents of the caste census include socialists like Rammanohar Lohia, Karpoori Thakur, Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad, and Ram Vilas Paswan; the Bahujan Samaj Party leader Kanshi Ram was a staunch supporter as well. Through his slogan 'Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, uski utni hissedari' (More representation for those with more population), Kanshi Ram highlighted the need to acknowledge the numbers before the policy on representation was laid out. If the intention of representing the Bahujan Samaj within the mainstream is genuine, then it becomes imperative to have a data set of groups that are under-represented so that their integration within the institutional framework can be streamlined. Caste as the unit for enmuneration Caste is fundamental to understand the social structure of India. It is unfortunate that it has not been taken seriously due to the absence of data, and is often perceived as divisive. This also reduces the understanding of caste to immediate political gratification. Caste in India not only determines one's social status; as the National Crime Records Bureau data show, it also determines the vulnerability of select communities owing to their caste position. Also Read | Political strategy or social reform? That said, caste is also a dynamic social category. Its nature and relationship vis-à-vis other castes is subject to change, given internal mobility and the claims that a caste identity makes. Against this backdrop, the caste census becomes a significant policy tool to understand what governs social bias and discrimination in Indian society. The enumeration of SCs and STs in the decennial censuses conducted in independent India has helped governments to collect statistics and data pertaining to their exclusion and the violence that they have been subjected to. The proposal of caste enumeration in India in the next census is important given the complex nature of caste across religions, specifically of OBC and religious minority groups. The caste census can give a complete picture of the true nature of caste as it functions in India. For instance, many caste identities have kept themselves close to different panth practices, while many others have differentiated themselves from other similar caste identities. Within the sub-caste of OBC, there are several internal variations and differences of culture and practice. Even in terms of land-relationship among sub-caste groups, access to resources, social mobility, inter-marriage within sub-caste communities and so on, a broader evaluation table needs to be generated. An 'encyclopedic eye' is required to get a comprehensive picture of what caste in India looks like, and the caste census could be a fundamental facilitator in achieving this. The collection and analysis of caste census will require methods and tools to integrate caste data, particularly the new OBC data set that will be obtained, into structures of assessment for inequality, land relations, representation in government institutions and so on. The task is tedious and will require extra effort and expert intervention, but more importantly, it will unveil different sub-caste categories that are otherwise brushed under the broad and ambiguous rubric of OBC. Caste census and OBC The discussion on OBCs has largely been missing from the nationwide imagination. In Bihar, the issue of sub-castes has made it to the discussion table because of the caste enumeration initiative led by the Bihar government. As it stands today, the OBC category is subcategorised into Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), EBC-women, EBC among Muslims and other minorities. Such forms of subcategorisation also reflect differential access to resources, inequitable land distribution, and access to education and government institutions within the sub-caste OBC groups. In Uttar Pradesh, the Most Backward Caste (MBC) in the SC category includes caste groups such as Kahar, Kashyap, Nishad, Prajapati, Rajbhar, Mallah, and others. These groups have been demanding SC status owing to the lack of social incentives reaching them. In Jharkhand, the division of sub-caste within OBC is facilitated through categories like Backward Class-1 and Backward Class-2 (BC-1 and BC-2). Clubbing the more deprived OBC caste groups along with the affluent OBCs who have gained social mobility (at least in terms of access to political power and land-ownership) will be detrimental to the social inclusion policy reaching the bottom-most of the strata. Post-Mandal, these groups have seldom been the beneficiaries of 27 per cent reservation as well, and this is reflected in their marginal socio-economic status. An important step in this direction was taken by the Rohini Commission report (submitted in 2023) that discussed for the first time the policy-level inclusion of select caste groups within the OBC category that have suffered inequitable representation. The report acknowledged the fact that within OBC caste groups, there are dominant caste groups, that own big landholdings and hence have acquired power and dominance within the political and social sphere. Their visible representation is seen in the government jobs and in political representation. Also Read | It is time to dust off Rohini Commission report and confront the truth about caste quotas When the Supreme Court has taken the initiative to talk about subcategorisation among the SC/STs, why can't the findings of the Rohini Commission report (submitted report in 2023), too, be similarly taken up? The report, which has not yet been made public, needs to tabled without further delay. The census data will further reflect on the complex nature in which caste groups are organised. The way forward The Modi government's decision on caste census has resonated with the public because it is an unfinished, long pending task. The category of 'Most Backward' among OBC was set out by the first Backward Caste commission under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar in 1953. The Mungeri Lal Commission (formed in 1971) and Cheddi Lal Sathi Commission (formed in 1975) did discuss the 'Most Backward' and 'Extremely Backward' among the OBC categories. Karpoori Thakur actually implemented the recommendation of the Mungeri Lal Commission which recommended reservation for OBCs, MBCs, women and economically backward sections. The demand from most marginal of the caste groups has also come through political alliances, through which they have been demanding better representation of their caste community. Data collected through the caste census will reveal the actual condition of OBCs, a caste category that has long been excluded from a systematic policy-wise examination. Given the dynamic nature of caste categories, it is important to constantly enumerate caste to facilitate the understanding of sub-caste groups and their axis of influence. To strengthen this, it is also important to have questions pertaining to socio-economic data and cultural differentiation across different sub-caste groups. The caste census, if conducted effectively, will be an opportune moment to systematically understand caste realities. It will facilitate a targeted approach to marginal caste groups, thereby paving way for equitable social justice. It will also facilitate social justice processes that has long been stagnant and overdue. K. Kalyani is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Maya defends Akash's return, asks party workers to back him
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Tuesday urged party workers to support and encourage her nephew, Akash Anand, who was recently reinstated in the party after being removed from key responsibilities. In a detailed post on social media platform X, Mayawati addressed the internal dynamics of the party, stating that some BSP members, due to 'ignorance, over-enthusiasm, carelessness, or being misled by opposition conspiracies', are occasionally removed from responsibilities -- and in serious cases, expelled. 'After some of them reflect and apologise, they are taken back in the interest of the party and the movement. This has been the practice since the party's formation, and similar actions are seen in other parties as well', she added. Referring specifically to Akash Anand, she said that 'some selfish and sellable elements within the Bahujan Samaj' -- who have floated their own parties to divide the BSP vote -- have been spreading false propaganda in the media about his return. 'Party workers should be cautious of such opportunistic elements,' she said, adding, 'They should also encourage Akash Anand so that he can contribute wholeheartedly to the party. Similarly, all others who have been re-inducted should be given full respect, as it serves the party's interest.' Mayawati criticised opposition parties for their reactions to the BSP's internal decisions, accusing them of double standards. 'When people are expelled from our party for indiscipline or immaturity, and later reinstated after they realise their mistakes, opposition parties like the Congress and BJP call it 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram'. But when they do the same, they call it a matter of party interest,' she said. She claimed that such criticism is part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish the BSP's image. 'There is nothing personal in these decisions,' she wrote. 'It is entirely about advancing the mission of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, and serving the interests of the party and the movement.' Mayawati called on party members to remain vigilant and united, keeping the larger goals of social justice and empowerment at the forefront.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mayawati urges party workers to support Akash Anand
A day after defending the re-induction of her nephew Akash Anand into the party fold, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati on Tuesday urged party workers to support and encourage the young leader. Anand was recently reinstated after being removed from party's responsibilities in March earlier this year. In a detailed post on social media platform X, Mayawati addressed the internal dynamics of the party, stating that some BSP members, due to 'ignorance, over-enthusiasm, carelessness, or being misled by opposition conspiracies', are occasionally relieved of responsibilities and even expelled in serious cases. 'Some of them are re-inducted in the interest of the party and the movement after they apologise. Similar actions are seen in other political parties as well,' she emphasised. While specifically naming Akash Anand, Mayawati said that 'some selfish and saleable elements within the Bahujan Samaj who have floated their own parties to divide the BSP vote have been spreading false propaganda in the media about his return.' 'Party workers should be cautious of such opportunistic elements,' she said, adding, 'They should also encourage Akash Anand so that he can contribute whole-heartedly to the party. Similarly, all others who are re-inducted into the party should be given full respect in the party's interest and movement to regain the keys to power.' 'There is nothing personal in these decisions. It is entirely about advancing the mission of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar,' she said. She called on party members to remain vigilant and united, keeping the larger goals of social justice and empowerment at the forefront. Mayawati criticised the opposition parties for their reactions to the BSP's internal decisions, accusing them of double standards. 'When people are expelled from our party for indiscipline or immaturity and later reinstated after they realise their mistakes, opposition parties like the Congress and BJP term it 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram'. But when they do the same, they call it a matter of party interest,' she said, adding such criticism is part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish the BSP's image. With inputs from agencies
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Mayawati defends Akash Anand's return, asks party workers to encourage him
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Tuesday urged party workers to support and encourage her nephew, Akash Anand, who was recently reinstated in the party after being removed from key responsibilities. In a detailed post on social media platform X, Mayawati addressed the internal dynamics of the party, stating that some BSP members, due to "ignorance, over-enthusiasm, carelessness, or being misled by opposition conspiracies", are occasionally removed from responsibilities -- and in serious cases, expelled. "After some of them reflect and apologise, they are taken back in the interest of the party and the movement. This has been the practice since the party's formation, and similar actions are seen in other parties as well", she added. Referring specifically to Akash Anand, she said that "some selfish and sellable elements within the Bahujan Samaj" -- who have floated their own parties to divide the BSP vote -- have been spreading false propaganda in the media about his return. "Party workers should be cautious of such opportunistic elements,' she said, adding, 'They should also encourage Akash Anand so that he can contribute wholeheartedly to the party. Similarly, all others who have been re-inducted should be given full respect, as it serves the party's interest." Mayawati criticised opposition parties for their reactions to the BSP's internal decisions, accusing them of double standards. "When people are expelled from our party for indiscipline or immaturity, and later reinstated after they realise their mistakes, opposition parties like the Congress and BJP call it 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram'. But when they do the same, they call it a matter of party interest," she said. She claimed that such criticism is part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish the BSP's image. "There is nothing personal in these decisions," she wrote. "It is entirely about advancing the mission of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, and serving the interests of the party and the movement." Mayawati called on party members to remain vigilant and united, keeping the larger goals of social justice and empowerment at the forefront.
