Political parties have hit back at the Modi Government’s proposal to give 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for economically backward section in the general category.
Calling the proposal a joke, the political parties said the move is just a ‘chunavi jumla’ (election gimmick) since the general elections are right round the corner.
Adding that the BJP was afraid to lose in the 2019 polls, the Congress said the quota proposal was a gimmick to fool people. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the Government did not think about this for four years and eight months and brought this just months before the model code of conduct coming into effect.
He also asked whether the Government has the majority to bring about a Constitution amendment in Parliament.
“Why did you not think of this for four years and eight months? So obviously, thought of as election gimmick three months before the model code. You know that you cannot exceed 50 per cent maxima so it is done only to posture that you tried,” he tweeted.
Congress spokeperson Randeep Sujrewala said, “100 days are left for elections and Mr Modi now remembers the economically weaker sections [EWS] of society.”
“The Government accepted in Parliament that there are 24 lakh vacant posts that have not been filled by the Modi Government. We are in favour of reservation in jobs, but the youth is asking when will they get the jobs,” Surjewala said.
Congress leader Harish Rawat said, “Bohot der kar di meherbaan aate aate, that also when elections are around the corner. No matter what they do, what ‘jumlas’ they give, nothing is going to save this Government.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal dared the Government to bring an amendment Bill in Parliament, saying his party will support the NDA Government on the constitutional amendment Bill for giving 10 per cent quota to “economically weaker” sections and demanded that the ongoing Parliament session be extended for the purpose.
Kejriwal said if the Centre drags its feet over the issue, then the constitutional amendment bill will be “merely an election stunt”.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the CPI(M) has been raising this demand for long. “They had been trying to destroy the reservation system. We have always demanded this reservation for financially backward classes in the upper caste. Now that finally they have taken this decision, it is a welcome step,” the CM added.
The NCP wondered if the Union Cabinet’s move to approve 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker sections in the general category was the “beginning” to cancel the reservation for SCs and STs “as per the RSS’ stand”. The NCP also said the move will mainly benefit the middle class and not the poor.
Applauding Modi for the decision, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and BJP’s ally RPI (Athawale) leader Ramdas Athawale described the decision as a masterstroke which could end the difference between the upper and lower caste. Another BJP ally and LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan also welcomed the decision and termed it as historic. LJP leader Chirag Paswan said in a statement that the poor are a group in themselves and should never be discriminated on the ground of castes as he welcomed the decision.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Constitution doesn’t permit reservations on economic grounds. “Reservations are meant to correct historical injustice to Dalits. For poverty alleviation, one may run various schemes but reservations are meant for justice. Constitution doesn’t permit reservations on economic grounds,” Owaisi said.
Critising the move, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said reservation is not to improve the financial conditions. It is for representation of socially backward people. “If financial condition was to be improved, PM Narendra Modi should have given Rs 15 lakh and jobs,” he added.
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said the party will react after the Bill is tabled in Parliament.
Former Finance Minister and Minister of External Affairs Yaswant Sinha said the proposal to give 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker upper castes is nothing more than a ‘jumla’. “It is bristling with legal complications and there is no time for getting it passed thru both Houses of Parliament. Govt stands completely exposed,” he tweeted
EWS or economically weaker section is defined as someone whose annual income is below Rs 8 lakh, agricultural land is less than 5 hectares, residential house is smaller than 1,000 square feet, residential plot is smaller than 109 yards in notified municipality and smaller than 209 yards in non-notified municipality area.