Jammu, April 30, ANB, Speaking at a state seminar under the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samman Abhiyan at the BJP State Office in Chandigarh, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh hailed the Narendra Modi government's decision to include caste-based enumeration in the upcoming Census as “historic, visionary, and a defining moment for India's social justice landscape.”
According to News Service, Associated News Bureau, ANB, “This isn’t just about counting castes,” Chugh said. “It’s about informed policymaking for the most deprived, backed by precise data. The Modi government delivers with intent and integrity — not just slogans.”
Chugh launched a sharp attack on the Congress and the I.N.D.I alliance, accusing them of politicizing caste census after having failed to act on it during their rule. He noted that no full-scale caste enumeration was carried out under Congress, and the 2011 SECC survey lacked transparency and seriousness. “Back then, they only offered lip service,” he said.
He also criticized politically driven caste surveys by some state governments, calling them “opaque and divisive.” In contrast, Chugh said the Modi government is incorporating caste enumeration into the national census for “transparency, accuracy, and national coherence.”
Chugh highlighted the Modi government’s track record on social equity: the 10% EWS reservation for economically weaker sections without unrest, and granting constitutional status to the OBC Commission — a demand long ignored by Congress.
Turning to Punjab politics, Chugh accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government of failing Dalits, OBCs, and marginalized communities.
“Scholarships have stalled, education is crumbling, and jobs are vanishing. The AAP government has reduced Ambedkar’s legacy to photo ops,” he said.
He further accused Congress of sidelining Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during his lifetime and delaying his Bharat Ratna recognition until a BJP-supported government came to power. “Even Ambedkar’s entry into the Constituent Assembly was opposed,” Chugh added.
Praising BJP efforts to honor Ambedkar — including Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s move to place his portrait in Parliament and PM Modi’s development of the Panch Teerth — Chugh accused Congress of exploiting Ambedkar’s name for electoral gain while undermining his ideals historically.
Chugh also targeted Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and other I.N.D.I alliance leaders.
“These are the same people who lose elections and then preach constitutional values. Their predecessors consistently opposed reservation and OBC rights,” he said, citing Nehru’s directive against reservation, Rajiv Gandhi’s opposition to OBC quotas, and Rahul Gandhi’s past remarks on reservations abroad.
Concluding, Chugh said, “Dr. Ambedkar dreamed of an India that is educated, empowered, and equal. Prime Minister Modi is realizing that vision. Those who misuse Babasaheb’s legacy for political theatrics will be judged — by history and by the people.” ANB
