Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday welcomed the Centre’s decision to give 10 per cent quota to higher castes based on economic criteria. Though she termed it as an ‘election gimmick’ but hinted that her party would support the bill in Parliament.
“The announcement was made in a hurry without assessing the real situation but still we are happy that the BJP government at last had conceded to our demands,” she said. “It would have been better had the BJP taken the decision much earlier... The government is now on its way out,” she added.
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the quota for economically weaker sections. The move came as the upper castes, a staunch support base of the BJP, have shown signs of drifting away from the ruling party ahead of Lok Sabha polls, likely to be held in April-May.
Her reaction came a day after other Opposition parties questioned the timing of the Cabinet decision. But they have also extended support, reflecting the decision’s political significance. The BJP has termed the government decision “historic”.
Mayawati said her party had demanded reservation for economically weak Muslims and other minority communities but BJP did not do “justice” to them and that was condemnable. “The party had written a letter in this regard to the government but the Centre took a narrow and communal stand and provided the benefit to only a particular section (upper caste), which is injustice for other sections,” she said.
“In reality, there should be review of reservation provided to SC/ST and OBC and these sections should be provided reservation as per their population by increasing their quota by amending the Constitution,” she said, demanding the implementation of quota in promotions.
The Union government is likely to bring a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament to provide the quota over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation. Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be amended for implementation of the decision.