Opinion
-
Letters to the Editor
Equality amendment
Sir, - Mr. Rajeev Dhavan's ``The equality amendment of 2001'' (Dec. 29) neither talks about law nor society. He has selectively quoted statistics which show a high percentage of SCs/STs promoted to higher levels. Exceptions can't be the rule but he has tried to make them look that way. He has condemned accelerated promotion and justified the judgment given by the Supreme Court in the case of Ajit Singh.
Dalits are also citizens of the country and hence reservation is not a favour. It is their share in the political and administrative realms in a limited way. Except where there is reservation, Dalits are still at the periphery, be it industry, trade, commerce, judiciary, art and culture, higher education or any other profession.
Mr. Dhavan's argument regarding merit is not acceptable. The Westerners are more meritorious than us in many fields. Britishers gave us law and a judicial system but we fought against them because of non-representation of Indians in the governance of the country.
Going by his logic, we should have not revolted against the British because they were more meritorious and hence fit for all posts.
According to him, Parliament cannot sit in appeal over the Supreme Court. The essential feature of democracy is to govern by the mandate of the people. Parliament represents the will of the people and it has got every right to implement it. India has suffered and is still suffering many setbacks because of caste system. There is no reservation in the higher echelons of judiciary, then why are over two crore cases pending in different courts?
There is no reservation in sports, why have we not won a single gold medal in Olympics and in other important international events so far? And in professions, entrepreneurship and technology too, things are grim. Who is responsible?
When there was undeclared reservation in ancient and medieval times for the upper castes in governance, why did the country suffer?
Mr. Dhavan should realise that it is a matter of opportunity and nothing else. No one is meritorious by birth.
If Parliament has done something to implement reservation at higher level, nowhere has it deprived people of the general category or altered the basic structure of the Constitution.
I know reservation will not solve the problems of Dalits and the country, and if the country has to be reconstructed, it will have to be through the elimination of caste system and implementation of compulsory and equal education. And I am ready to give up reservation in lieu of elimination of caste system and compulsory and equal education. Udit Raj (Ram Raj),
Chairman, All India Confederation,
SC/ST Organisations,
New Delhi
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opinion
|
