The word ‘reservation’ acts like an alert or an alarm, impacting not just specific castes and categories but the entire population. The Supreme Court of India said it was considering implementing sub-caste reservations within pre-decided caste categories. Reservation issues remain a national concern, not only for a single state but for the whole nation.
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Punjab have all experienced significant reservation-based violence. Mayawati criticised the Supreme Court’s decision to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities, calling it “unfair” on Twitter. She argued that the reality contradicts the official statements, with various caste groups having their own grievances. Her remarks signal a strong rejection of the SC’s decision and reflect political motives, with the BSP chief also accusing Congress of supporting sub-classification. The current situation remains disconnected from the real issues at hand.
It’s important to understand that the reservation system is not designed solely to alleviate poverty for specific castes or classes. Rather, it aims to create equitable opportunities for marginalized groups, including migrants and those at the lower end of the social spectrum. SC and ST classifications address specific groups, but some privileged classes perceive this as merely a quota system. Every few years, a designated team selects a prominent leader from the depressed classes to represent them. However, the leader’s effectiveness often reflects their caste’s influence, and policies tend to impact the entire caste rather than benefiting individuals broadly. Ideally, a leader should address the needs of the entire category, but often, the results are confined to specific castes.
The National Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, announced that before finalising the party’s stance on the sub-classification of SCs and STs, they will consult NGOs, lawyers, and other stakeholders. This suggests that Congress may support sub-classification. BSP leader Mayawati’s tweet critiques not only Congress but also resonates with the common people who face persistent challenges. From railway tickets to highway tolls and recruitment forms, many feel stuck in a system where certain classes always seem to benefit more, highlighting a disparity between official policies and everyday realities.
Lok Janshakti Party Chief, Ram Vilas, and Union Minister, Chirag Paswan criticised the Supreme Court’s SC classification, stating it ignored the principles of untouchability, which were central to the original classification. This marks the first time during the Modi government that a leader has publicly countered a position taken by the senior leadership.
The Supreme Court’s comments have had a big impact on Indians. We await the next hearing for further developments.
The writer is a an engineer. Views personal.
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