Thus, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has also suggested reviewing the country’s reservation policy.
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“This interview was not on the subject of reservation but about integral humanism and should be seen in this context”, RSS chief spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya said in a statement.
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.
The BJP on Monday said it does not favour a reconsideration of the reservation policy.
The controversy erupted following Mohan Bhagwat’s interview in the latest issue of RSS mouthpiece Organiser. Shivraj Singh, general secretary of BJP’s alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, on his part said, “Reservation is a settled issue in India as mandated by the Constitution”.
Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad elucidated that BJP is not in favour reconsideration of reservation policy extended to the groups like South Carolina , ST, and OBC. “He had said that every weaker section of the society should get appropriate and deserved benefits of the reservation schemes, as per the wishes of policy makers of the reservation while making the reservation schemes”.
“It is BJP’s firm commitment since Jan Sangh days that reservation is essential for social and economic development and empowerment of SCs, STs, backward and extremely backward castes”.
With the controversy brewing up over Bhagwat’s remarks, the RSS in a statement suggested that its chief’s remarks during the interview were misconstrued in the media.
“Interest groups are formed because we have certain aspirations in democracy”. “You are talking about ending reservations”.
Sources said the hint at fresh quotas for the “economically and socially backward” had come against the backdrop of the Patel protests in Gujarat to press for Other Backward Classes status. Bhagwat claimed that if the quotas had been implemented according to the vision of the Constitution makers, there wouldn’t have been any questions on the issue.
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Hardik Patel, a 21-year-old politician is fighting against the reservation and quota in government jobs and colleges for Gujarat’s wealthy community.
