With internal differences persisting and RSS taking a strong line against it, BJP today appeared to be having reservations on its support to inclusion of caste in census.
“We believe in a strong nation. We have put forth our view in Parliament...Why you are asking us when the stand of the central government is itself not clear,” party general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here. Answering a volley of questions seeking clarity on the party’s stand on the ticklish issue, Prasad’s refrain was, “we believe in a strong nation. We have put forth our view in Parliament”.
He was briefing reporters on the presidential address of party chief Nitin Gadkari to the BJP National Executive which began here.
At the fag end of the Budget session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha had witnessed a debate on the issue of inclusion of caste in census and several BJP leaders including its deputy leader Gopinath Munde had favoured such an inclusion to further the cause of social justice and empowerment.
The Yadav trio — Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav — were in the forefront of the demand for such an inclusion following which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured a decision in the light of the discussion.
However, there was no mention of the issue in Gadkari’s presidential address.
