56 percent are Backward castes, including Muslims. Dalits and Adivasis come to 28 percent. If all of them are added up, that’s 84 percent. Upper castes, including Muslims, are 16 percent. These are the figures of the caste survey in Telangana. The opportunities availed by each of these groups have not been reported. In terms of population-wise share, the picture given by the Telangana survey is similar to what was seen in the survey in Bihar. Even if a countrywide caste census is conducted, this is what will be seen. These figures show the injustice of the Supreme Court’s decision that only 50 percent reservation should be given to Dalits, Adivasis and Backward castes.
It also reveals why the Sanghi Modi government is hesitating to conduct a caste census. It wants to hide the figures that expose the truth for as long as possible. The truth is that the upper castes, who have grabbed most of the opportunities, are a very small minority. This can be expected from them. But why do the CPM and CPI, who claim to be parties of the oppressed and exploited, follow them? Why do they evade this task by saying that the Central government should do it, despite having the examples of Bihar and Telangana?
They are guided by revisionism, not Marxism. This revisionism is closely intertwined with the Brahminism that resides in the core of the worldview of the Indian ruling classes. This revisionism has always served the Savarnas. The same is seen in the case of the caste census.
Responding to a query about sub-categorisation in Dalit and Adivasi reservation, the Pinarayi government in Keralam has stated that it cannot be done without a clear directive from the Center and the Supreme Court. This is being celebrated by some Dalit organisations that oppose sub-categorisation. They conveniently forget that the LDF governement cites the same reason to avoid carrying out a caste census. In effect, the interests of the sections these organisations claim to represent are being harmed by their stance.
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