Bengaluru: The Indian National Congress has taken sharp aim at senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) for allegedly making contradictory statements regarding the caste census. Former Indian Youth Congress President Srinivas BV, in a social media post, highlighted a series of U-turns by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy.

In his statement, Srinivas BV referred to them as the “Ghajini Brothers of Karnataka politics,” alluding to their frequent changes in position, and suggesting they suffer from political amnesia. Highlighting their contradictory statements, he remarked that one day they term the caste census as "dangerous," and the next, they celebrate it as "historic." With sharp sarcasm, he added that at this rate, even Ghajini might ask them for memory lessons.

The Congress also released a digital poster under the theme "U-Turn MPs", showcasing contrasting remarks by the two leaders.

 

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s statements:

On October 31, 2023, Surya stated: “Caste-based divisions have had an adverse impact on society. Hindu reformers have unequivocally condemned them. In this age, it is incumbent upon us to unite, rather than further divide ourselves on the basis of caste.”

In a more recent post, he expressed support for the Union Government’s decision: “Welcome the historic decision of Shri Narendra Modi-led NDA government to include caste enumeration in the census exercise.”

JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s remarks:

Initially, Kumaraswamy had questioned the motives behind the exercise: “Caste Census or Census of Hatred? What is it really—a caste census or a census of hate?”

Subsequently, he welcomed the same decision: “A historic and visionary decision under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi; caste enumeration will now be part of the upcoming national census for the first time since 1931.”

The Congress has used these statements to argue that the BJP and JD(S) are not consistent in their approach to socially sensitive issues like caste enumeration. According to party leaders, such shifting positions reflect political opportunism rather than principled leadership.

 

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New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.

The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.

Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.

“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.

Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”

Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.

In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”

"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added. 

According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.

Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.