The decision, say sources, is in line with the view of its ideological mentor RSS
The centre will move a constitutional amendment to enable 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and education for economically weaker upper castes, in a mega decision that comes just months before the national election. A constitutional amendment bill is likely to be moved tomorrow.
Sources say the cabinet has approved a quota in direct recruitment and for admission in higher educational institutions. The decision, say sources, is in line with the view of its ideological mentor RSS or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that reservation should be along economic lines and not just based on caste.
Here are the LIVE updates of this big story:
Mamata Banerjee on 10 per cent reservation approved by Cabinet for economically weaker upper castes
"My question is, in the name of elections, can a government cheat people or ditch unemployed youth? They've to clarify whether it will be implemented or not and if it is constitutionally & legally valid or not, said Mamata Banerjee, according to news agency ANI
Opposition parties dismiss move as electoral stunt
Opposition parties in Bihar, which have come together and formed a Grand Alliance to take on the BJP-led NDA in the next Lok Sabha polls, on Monday dismissed as an electoral stunt the Narendra Modi governments decision to extend 10 per cent reservations to the
economically backward among the upper castes, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwaha, who was a Union minister till a month ago, said while in NDA whenever I sought to draw the governments attention towards inadequacy of the 50 per cent ceiling on quotas, I was offered the alibi that it was fixed by the Supreme Court and breaking the barrier would require a constitutional amendment, according to PTI.
Now, I wonder how they are going to implement this proposed quota unless they bring in the necessary constitutional amendment. It is, of course, an electoral stunt, another example of jumlebaazi (rhetoric). A similar gimmick was resorted to by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a few years ago when he set up a Savarna Ayog. Nobody knows what happened to that, Kushwaha told reporters.
The Congress Monday described the government''s decision of quota for economically backward sections in the general category as an "election gimmick" and accused the BJP of posturing ahead of the national elections.
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 said in a tweet.
Sources say the bill has to be a constitutional amendment as it overshoots the Supreme Court's 50 per cent cap on quotas and takes the total to 60 per cent. Any increase from that limit will be subject to judicial scrutiny and is unlikely to get parliamentary approval immediately.
The government's big move comes at a time the ruling BJP is seen by many to have lost its invincibility after its election defeats to the Congress in three major heartland states.
Those who earn less than Rs. 8 lakh a year, have less than five acre land qualify for the quota, said Union Minister Vijay Sampla.
Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted: 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
Omar Abdullah tweeted: Reservation for economically backward upper castes. The bugle announcing the elections has well & truly sounded.
Vijay Sampla, Minister of State for Social Justice, said this reservation will be different from the earlier 50%. In this, all the upper castes like Brahmin, Bania, besides Christians and Muslims will also be included. Demand for this had been going on for a long time and only PM Modi had the courage to take this decision.
"Do not look at this politically, it is the duty of the government to understand the feelings of the people and fulfill their needs and the government has done its duty"
Union Minister Shiv Pratap Shukla said PM Modi has taken a very big decision.
"It was on the BJP agenda from the beginning. There is nothing to do with this election."
Cabinet is understood to have given its approval for a constitution amendment bill providing 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections in direct recruitment and for admission in higher educational institutions.
With the colossal move, the government wants to show that it is committed to the general population who do not have reservations. A large section of upper caste and middle class voters were seen to be upset with the ruling BJP over quotas only for Scheduled Caste and Tribes and Other Backward Castes (SC/STs and OBCs).
Sources say the bill has to be a constitutional amendment as it overshoots the Supreme Court's 50 per cent cap on quotas. Any increase from that limit will be subject to judicial scrutiny and is unlikely to get parliamentary approval immediately.
The government's big move comes at a time the ruling BJP is seen by many to have lost its invincibility after its election defeats to the Congress in three major heartland states.