Without directly quoting the apex court’s decision that allowed the states to have sub-groups within 15% scheduled caste quota, the Samajwadi Party chief said in a post on X, “The main objective of any kind of reservation should be the empowerment of the neglected society and not the division or disintegration of that society, this disregards the basic principle of reservation itself.”
The SC had asked the state governments to develop criteria to bar the ‘creamy layer’ among SCs and STs from availing reservation.
Addressing this observation, Yadav said, “The discrimination and unequal opportunities that have been going on for countless generations cannot be bridged by the changes that have come in a few generations. ‘Reservation’ is the constitutional way to empower and strengthen the exploited and deprived society, this is what will bring about change, there is no need to change its provisions.”
‘Credibility of BJP on reservationhas become zero’
Akhilesh Yadav has been vocal about his support for the nationwide caste census which the saffron party has been opposing.
Pointing out the declining support of the PDA (Pichra, Dalit and Alpsankhyak) community, Akhilesh said, “The BJP government every time tries to weaken the fight for reservation through its vague statements and lawsuits, then when the various components of the PDA put pressure on it, it pretends to back down by showing superficial sympathy.”
“The internal thinking of the BJP has always been against reservation. That is why the trust of 90% of the PDA community on the BJP is continuously declining. The credibility of the BJP on the issue of reservation has become zero,” he added.
Kharge on Saturday had questioned the PM Modi-led government’s intentions on reservations saying that the Centre should have introduced legislation in Parliament to overturn the SC’s ruling on the matter.
“The Prime Minister says that we will not touch it. If that was the case then you should have said immediately that it will not be implemented. You should have brought it in the Parliament and rejected the Supreme Court’s judgment. But today 10-15 days have passed, but you do not have time for this,” he said.