Quota used for political ends, says RSS chief and seeks policy review

Current policy of reservations not in line with what the makers of the Indian constitution wanted

GN Bureau | September 21, 2015


#quota   #patel   #rss   #mohan bhagwat   #reservation   #obc  

Seeking a committee with representatives from the civil society, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has pitched for a review of the reservation policy. He has said that the quota issue has been used for political ends. Bhagwat's remarks come in the wake of violent protests by the Patel community in Gujarat who are demanding a share in the OBC reservation pie.

"We believe, form a committee of people genuinely concerned for the interest of the whole nation and committed for social equality, including some representatives from the society, they should decide which categories require reservation and for how long.

"The non-political committee like autonomous commissions should be the implementation authority; political authorities should supervise them for honesty and integrity," he has said. His suggestions have been published in Sangh mouthpiece 'Organiser' and 'Panchjanya' interview.

Arguing that the policy of reservations based on social backwardness being extended now is not in line with what the makers of the Indian constitution had in mind, Bhagwat said had quotas been implemented as per the vision of the constitution makers questions on the issue would not have surfaced.

"If we would have implemented this policy as envisaged by the constitution makers instead of doing politics over it, then present situation would not have arrived. Since inception it has been politicised," he said.

He said though "interest groups" do get formed in democracy, aspirations of one section should not be met at the cost of others.

"Interest groups are formed because we have certain aspirations in democracy. At the same time, we should remember that through interest groups we should not strive to address those aspirations at the cost of others.

"We should have integral approach of welfare for all. It is sensible to realize that my interest lies in larger national interest. Government also has to be sensitive to these issues that there should not be any agitation for them," Bhagwat said.

Comments

 

Other News

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation.   During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495  

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th

What ails India`s skill development ecosystem

India’s skill development programmes were designed with a goal to make the young population ready with market-required skills and competencies, and to provide them with better employment opportunities. Yet the outcomes have fallen short of that goal: though over 1.6 crore individuals were trained acr

Cabinet passes resolution applauding PM on term record

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday passed a resolution marking June 10, 2026, as a historic milestone in the journey of Indian democracy applauding Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving elected PM of the country. By establishing a record of 4,399 days of continuous service as an elected PM, he has s





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter