New Delhi: Despite accusing the BJP of attempting to alter the Constitution during the election campaign, the Congress party has itself called for a constitutional amendment to lift the 50% cap on quotas for Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes. On June 30, Congress reiterated its demand to remove this limit imposed by the Supreme Court.
Jairam Ramesh, a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha MP, emphasized that the party has consistently advocated for this change throughout the Lok Sabha election campaign. He criticized the Janata Dal-United (JDU) for its inaction after switching from the INDI Alliance to the NDA. Ramesh accused the JDU of not pressuring its BJP allies in Patna and Delhi to address the quota cap issue, despite having previously passed resolutions on related matters.
The demand for an increase in quotas comes in the wake of a legal setback for the Bihar administration. On June 20, the Patna High Court struck down the Bihar government's proposal to raise quotas from 50% to 65% for Dalits, backward classes, and tribal communities. The court declared the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes) Amendment Act, 2023, and the Bihar Reservation (in admission to educational institutions) Amendment Act, 2023, as unconstitutional.
During the campaign, Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP and RSS for allegedly seeking to dismantle reservation policies. Speaking at a rally in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, on May 28, Gandhi pledged to increase reservations beyond the 50% cap if the Congress came to power. He claimed that while the BJP aims to abolish reservation rights related to land, water, and forests, the Congress and its allies are committed to preserving and expanding these rights.
In another development, on April 22, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) flagged concerns about the Karnataka government’s decision to classify Muslims as a backward caste for reservation purposes. The NCBC argued that this broad classification undermines social justice principles. The commission noted that the inclusion of all Muslim castes and communities in the OBC category for reservations in government employment and educational institutions could dilute the effectiveness of affirmative action policies.
Delhi High Court to Rule on BRS Leader K Kavitha's Bail Petitions in Excise Policy Case
Indian Army Inducts First Indigenous 4G Mobile Base Station from Signaltron
