Soon after the Cabinet on Monday, 7 January, approved a 10 percent reservation for economically backward upper castes in government jobs and education, reactions from across the political spectrum started to pour in.
While the BJP and its allies said that the decision should be welcomed, those in the Opposition sounded sceptical of the government’s intentions.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that reservation is not meant to deal with economic backwardness, but to alleviate the socially backward classes. “The government should generate jobs to help those who are economically weak,” he said.
CPI leader D Raja said that the decision shows that the government wants to please the upper castes ahead of the elections. Expressing doubts over viability of the move, Raja said that the Supreme Court has clearly said that reservation has to be capped at 50 percent.
Patidar leader Hardik Patel termed the move as a ‘lollipop’ adding that the government has resorted to this move to divert attention from issues like Rafale, agrarian distress and unemployment.
On the other hand, BJP MP Udit Raj said that the decision is a good one adding that the apex court’s decision on the 50 percent cap was not a constitutional mandate.
Ally LJP’s Chirag Paswan said that he is happy with the government’s decision and that it should not be politicised.
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