‘End caste system first’ : Athawale rejects calls to abolish reservation

Abolish caste first, then talk about abolishing reservation — that was the message from Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday as he rejected demands to end the quota system and called reservation a constitutional right.

Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, was responding to recent protests at Jantar Mantar and social media campaigns calling for an end to reservation.

"Those seeking abolition of reservation should first ensure an end to the caste system. We will not insist on reservation once caste is eliminated," he said.

Athawale said reservation had expanded beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes over the years, with Economically Weaker Sections also covered under the system.

He argued that there was no case for scrapping reservation while caste-based discrimination and atrocities against SC communities continued.

Although untouchability is prohibited under Article 17 of the Constitution, such discrimination persists in parts of the country, he said.

Athawale also said the Narendra Modi government was committed to protecting reservation and ensuring that eligible communities continued to benefit from it.

Push for Buddhist control of Bodh Gaya temple

The minister also raised the issue of the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.

He demanded that the temple management committee have eight Buddhist members instead of the current four Buddhists and four Hindus. He also sought continuation of the Gaya district magistrate as the ex-officio chairman.

Athawale said the temple committee is governed by the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, and argued that the Buddhist place of worship should be managed by Buddhists.

He said he had sought an appointment with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and would also meet the governor over the issue.

Several Buddhist monks at the press conference announced a five-day hunger strike in Patna's Gardanibagh area in support of the demand.

‘Modi will return in 2029’

Athawale also backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for another term, saying he would return as prime minister after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

On Rahul Gandhi, he said the Leader of Opposition had every right to question the government but should also acknowledge its achievements.

Athawale also appealed to Cockroach Janata Party convenor Abhijeet Dipke to change the outfit's name.

Describing Dipke as a fellow Maharashtrian and Ambedkarite, Athawale said young Indians fighting for their rights should not be described as "cockroaches".

(With inputs from PTI)