RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has triggered a debate on the reservation policy by advocating setting up of a committee of people “dedicated” to social justice and “genuinely concerned about the interest of the whole nation” to examine who needs the facility and for how long.
Sensing the repercussion of the statement on the Bihar poll battle, the BJP distanced itself from Bhagwat’s views, saying it was not in favour of any reconsideration of the reservation policy. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, added that the party could discuss how quota policy benefits should reach the targeted groups.
Congress leader and former Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari backed the RSS chief’s statement, though the party officially did not issue any reaction on it.
As RJD chief lalu Prasad attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wondering if he would end reservations at Bhagwat’s bidding, the BJP said it respected 100 per cent reservation rights of SCs, STs and other backward castes as it was essential for their social and economic development and empowerment.
“It is the BJP’s firm commitment since Jana Sangh days that reservation is essential for social and economic development and empowerment of SCs, STs, backward and extremely backward castes. BJP is not in favour of any reconsideration of reservation being extended to these groups,” Prasad told mediapersons at a Press conference.
Prasad said a discussion was welcome on what further can be done for the poor and “left over” backward communities who have not been able to reap benefits of development, while insisting that the BJP was all for the existing benefits to continue.
“BJP indeed is very clear and very categorical that there is no need to reconsider reservation nor does the BJP support it (such a demand),” he said.
The BJP also fielded its general secretary in charge of Bihar Bhupender Yadav to take on lalu Prasad. Yadav said lalu should first answer what benefits the backward castes, in whose name he has “practiced” his politics, got in the 15-year rule of RJD in Bihar.
“What lalu calls ‘Mandal Raj’ is seen as “Jungle Raj” by the people of Bihar and he should tell how many schools and hospitals he had made for these communities,” Yadav said.
As the BJP responded, RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya clarified that Bhagwat had sought effective implementation of the reservation policy as envisaged by the Constitution. Vaidya said Bhagwat had not commented on the reservation policy for the weaker sections and only talked about ensuring that the benefit of the reservation goes to the targeted section of society as envisaged by the Constitution-makers.
Questioning the relevance of reservation in the 21st century, Manish Tewari said if it was required at all, the economic condition, and not caste, should be the basis for it. Tewari insisted that he held these views on reservation for long and referred to an article written by him over a fortnight ago.
“Notwithstanding whatever Bhagwat has articulated, the time has come to revisit the premise as to whether reservation is at all contextual in the 21st century. And if at all it is contextual then should the basis of reservation be economic, as poverty is the biggest indice of backwardnessIJ” Tewari said.
Asked whether he meant that caste-based reservation should be replaced by reservation based on financial position, the Congress leader said: “I am saying that it is first debatable whether we should have reservation. If yes, then what should be the basis of itIJ Whether it should be changed from caste to economy.”
Tewari is the second Congress leader to pitch for revisiting the quota issue in the past week. Congress leader Jitin Prasada, a prominent youth face from Uttar Pradesh, wrote a letter to the party leadership, urging it to “revisit Mandal politics”.
Fighting a high-stake poll contest in Bihar, lalu dared Prime Minister Modi to scrap quotas. The RJD president, who had been courting Mandal and post-Mandal politics, asserted his party would ensure quotas were increased in proportion to the population of the targeted groups.
“You talk of doing away with reservation, we will increase it in proportion to the population. If you have drunk your mother’s milk then have it scrapped, each would know his strength,” he said in another tweet.
“No matter how much the RSS and BJP try to create an atmosphere for finishing reservation, Dalits and backwards who constitute 80 per cent of the country will give a befitting reply,” he said.
Janata Dal (United) also slammed the RSS chief for seeking a review of the reservation policy and said this amounts to “interference” and is an attempt to “weaken” the SC, ST and other backward communities. “JD(U) totally rejects and condemns the proposal of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat regarding appointment of a committee to review the reservation policy of the SC/ST and backwards,” said party general secretary KC Tyagi.
The BJP’s key ally in Bihar, Rashtriya lok Samta Party (RlSP) maintained that Reservation in India was a “settled issue.” “Reservation is a settled issue in India as mandated by the Constitution. Beyond this, we have nothing to say,” RlSP chief general secretary Shivraj Singh told reporters here when asked to respond to the remarks of Bhagwat.
In a wide-ranging interview in the latest issue of ‘Organiser’, Bhagwat commented on integral humanism, society, political ideologies, economic models as also the reservation policy and its correct implementation.
“We believe, form a committee of people genuinely concerned about the interest of the whole nation and committed to social equality, including some representatives from society. They should decide which categories require reservation and for how long,” said the RSS head.
“The non-political committee, like autonomous commissions, should be the implementing authority; political authorities should supervise them for honesty and integrity,” he said.
Arguing that the policy of reservations based on social backwardness being extended now is not in line with what the makers of the Indian Constitution had in mind, Bhagwat said had quotas been implemented as per the vision of the Constitution-makers questions on the issue would not have surfaced.
The response of Bhagwat on the reservation issue came on the question: “You said integrity and honesty are the main parameters. Do you see any such policy initiative, undertaken or suggestive, which is in tune with Integral HumanismIJ
To this, the RSS chief reacted by saying, “Reservation for socially backward classes is the right example in this regard. If we would have implemented this policy as envisaged by the Constitution-makers instead of doing politics over it, then the present situation would not have arrived. Since inception it has been politicised.”
Bhagwat’s remarks also come in the wake of violent protests by the Patel community in Gujarat who are demanding a share in the OBC reservation pie.