Need not reconsider Reservation’: BJP after RSS Chief’s comments

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Sept 21:  The BJP has distanced itself from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion that the country’s reservation policy be reviewed. Mr Bhagwat’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP’s political rivals.

 

Following are the 10 latest developments in this story:

"The BJP very firmly supports the constitutional reservation for the SC, ST, OBC, Backwards and Extremely Backwards classes," the party said adding it "believes that reservation is important for the social, education and economic development of these groups."

It emphasised in a statement that it does not favour reconsidering "existing constitutional provision of reservation" and added, "However...if further measures are suggested for those who are economically and socially backwards, then the same is welcome."

In an interview to the Organiser, a magazine associated with the RSS, Mr Bhagwat said quota has for years been used as a political tool and suggested that a "non-political" committee be set up to examine who needs the benefit of reservation and for how long.

"If we would have implemented this policy as envisaged by the Constitution makers instead of doing politics over it, the present situation would not have arrived. Since inception it has been politicised," Mr Bhagwat said.

In Bihar, where crucial elections will be held next month, Lalu Prasad of the RJD immediately attacked the BJP in an attempt to rally the support of the backward castes who draw benefits from affirmative action.

Mr Lalu Prasad tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must clarify "if he will finish reservations at his master Bhagwat’s bidding." The RSS is the BJP’s ideological mentor and rival parties accuse it of interfering in the government’s decision making and policy.

The BJP’s ally in Bihar, Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, said, "Reservation is a settled issue in India as mandated by the Constitution. Beyond this, we have nothing to say." The BJP has partnered with the RLSP and two other parties with backward caste vote banks for the Bihar elections.

The RSS has since clarified that Mohan Bhagwat "did not speak about reservations being given to the weaker sections of society presently. He said everybody should strive that all weaker sections of society get reservation benefits as was the aspiration of makers of Constitution. This interview was not on the subject of reservation but about integral humanism and should be seen in this context."

Mr Bhagwat’s remarks came as 22-year-old politician Hardik Patel sought over the weekend to escalate his agitation for quota in government jobs and colleges for Gujarat’s wealthy Patel community.

The BJP government of Chief Minister Anandiben in Gujarat has ruled out including Patels on the quota lists since the state has already reached that limit of 50 per cent reservation.