Date:12/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/12/stories/2003081209581100.htm

National

BJP talks of 10 per cent reservation for FCs

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI AUG. 11. There is no clear thinking as yet either in the Government or in the Bharatiya Janata Party on the quantum of reservation to be offered to the economically weak among the forward castes, but informally some party leaders are talking of "10 per cent reservation'' for this category while conceding that so far there has been no internal party discussion on the subject.

Even as the Union Cabinet today decided to set up the subcommittee of a group of ministers (GoM) to study the issue, the BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu, hinted that although only a few working days of the monsoon session were left, it was possible for the GoM to meet a few times and decide — for the Law Ministry to draft legislation — for the Cabinet to approve it and for Parliament to pass it as suggested by the Prime Minister in the Jaipur rally on Sunday.

The Congress unit in Rajasthan had proposed 14 per cent reservation for the economically weak among the forward castes, but what the BJP has demanded — the party spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar, said this on record — is that the Congress `high command' should spell out its stand. If it did not speak out, its "doublespeak'' would exposed, he said. At the same time, he admitted that so far the BJP could not say exactly what quantum of reservation it was asking for. "We see poverty as a handicap,'' the party added.

Although earlier the BJP had talked of setting up a commission to study the issue and make recommendations, it seems this idea has been jettisoned for "it is not necessary''. Party sources indicated that looking at the issue informally the ministries of Law and Social Justice had separately come to the conclusion that a commission — which could take years — was not needed.

The BJP is acutely aware that reservation for the forward castes, for which there is no provision in the Constitution, would mean making a Constitution amendment. Any legislation on the subject will also have to overturn a Supreme Court judgment on the Mandal order saying that all reservation together should not exceed 50 per cent. Since there is 27 per cent reservation for the backward classes (excepting Tamil Nadu where it is higher and for which an exemption was made since it has been in force before the Supreme Court judgment), 22.5 per cent for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and some States have half a per cent reservation for various categories such as the disabled and ex-servicemen, any reservation for the poor among the forward castes would have to reverse the Supreme Court's verdict.

The entire issue is being seen as a "pre-election gimmick" which was started by the Congress to divide the forward caste votes of the BJP, especially in Rajasthan. The same election factor is now making the Union Government to take this matter forward.