Quota Policy to Continue, Says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

RSS said there should be an end to reservation systems, Jaitley countered saying the systems in place will stay.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. (Photo: PTI)

With RSS saying there should be no reservation in jobs and education for the affluent, the government today said there will be rethinking of the present social and caste based reservation policy and that it will continue.

In response to SP and BSP members raising concern over remarks by some RSS leaders Sunday, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said:

It is stated Government policy that the present arrangement of reservation will be maintained.

RSS, Jaitley said, “has also not talked” of scrapping or changing the present reservation policy.

Earlier, Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party alleged a conspiracy in doing away with the present reservation system.

BSP Supremo Mayawati addresses a press conference in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Mayawati (BSP) said the Constitution has clearly defined the criteria for giving reservation to SC/ST and OBCs and now RSS functionaries were talking of the quota being based on economic criteria.

Read: End Reservation, Let Women Into Temples & Bye to Khaki Shorts: RSS

She was referring to RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s remark at the organisation’s camp at Nagaur in Rajasthan Sunday.

Jaitley responded this, saying “he has not said that.” Soon after listed papers of the day were laid on the table, Opposition members led by SP, BSP and JD-U were up on their feet raising the issue.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Chairman has disallowed a notice under rule 267 by Naresh Agarwal (SP) seeking suspension of business to take up the issue.

When members persisted with the issue, he said RSS is a private organisation. “Why are you worried about that.” While Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said there is no difference between RSS and Government, Mayawati said statements on the quota issue have been made since BJP came to power.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. (Photo: IANS)

Responding to this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it was a clear view of the government that “reservation should continue” and “RSS has not talked about scrapping it.”

There is no question of removing reservation for SC/ST. RSS has also called for strengthening reservation, not ending it. 

<b>Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs</b>

Kurien said the government has given an assurance and the House should carry on with the listed business.