Amid the renewed controversy over reservations, the BJP on Wednesday indicated its support for affirmative action for the economically-backward among the upper castes but not before pointing out that it does not support any change in the existing reservation policy and that the 50 per cent quota for the SCs, STs and backward class was “not negotiable”.
“While keeping the 50 per cent quota intact, the development of poor among those who are not getting the benefits of reservation, besides the dalits and backwards, has been a key aspect of our concerns and programmes,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told a Press conference.
“Today’s 50 per cent reservation is not negotiable. What further affirmative actions can be taken is a different issue,” he said.
On the Rajasthan Assembly passing a Bill for granting reservation to the poor in general category, Javadekar said the 14 per cent reservation given by the Vasundhara Raje Government was meant for the poor among these groups.
Javadekar recalled that Raje as Chief Minister had taken a similar step during her previous tenure but it was struck down by the judiciary. He, however, exuded confidence that it will pass muster this time.
The Rajasthan Assembly had on Tuesday passed Bills providing for five per cent reservation to Gujjars and other communities under Special Backward Classes and 14 per cent quota to EBC of unreserved categories.