'Dividing society for political interests is nothing less than treason': Yogi Adityanath on caste census demand

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, slammed efforts to divide the society.

Adityanath was answering a question about the caste census proposed by opposition leaders like senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The issue has come up frequently in political rallies, press conferences, and the Parliament.

'Dividing the society for your political interest...'

The chief minister cautioned the "followers of Sanatan Dharma" to be wary of "those trying to divide people".

"Dividing the society for your political interest, or in the name of caste, region, or language is nothing less than treason," he said.

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Further, Adityanath said that he believes "that the poor, deprived, Dalits, backward castes should get their rights and this is the responsibility of a sensitive government."

He said that the country has been fortunate that in the past ten years, "for the first time in independent India, every such person has experienced this under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi."

'No discrimination in govt's welfare policies'

Adityanath mentioned the welfare schemes under the central government like homes for the poor under the Awas Yojana, 10 crore LPG connections, free ration to 80 crore people in the last five years, and free electricity to four crore beneficiaries.

"There was no discrimination in all these policies, and this has only been possible due to Modi ji's leadership and welfare schemes with the vision of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'," he said.

It was in 1931, when India was still under the colonial British government, that the last caste census was conducted.

Recently, opposition leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, have been insisting over and over on proportionate representation of marginalised communities. He has said that a caste census is necessary for this.