NEWS4EXCHANGE

After BSP, now SP, JD(S) support government's upper caste quota move

New Delhi, Jan 8 After Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav-drove Samajwadi gathering and Janata Dal (S) have respected the Center's turn to give 10 percent reservation in training and government jobs to the economically weaker sections in the General category.

''OBC ought to also get the reservation based on their population. The OBCs ought to be given 54 percent reservation. We welcome the Centre's move to give 10 percent reservation to the economically weaker upper caste members,'' SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav told Ani.

Remarks from Yadav came not long after BSP chief respected the choice, however she named it as a "decision stunt and political gimmick" ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Union Cabinet on Monday cleared the proposition to give 10 percent reservation in training and government occupations to the economically weaker sections of the upper castes.

The move came as the upper castes, a staunch help base of the BJP, have shown signs of drifting away from the decision party in front of Lok Sabha polls, likely to be held in April-May.

Mayawati said her party welcomes the "immature" move by the Modi government.

"It would have been better had the BJP taken the decision much earlier... The government is now on its way out," she claimed.

Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda also extended support to the Centre's turn towards giving a 10-percent standard in government employments and training for the "economically weaker" sections.

"Janata Dal (Secular) supports the 10 percent reservation in job and educational institutions for economically weaker sections of the upper castes," he said in a tweet.

"We have always stood for, and will continue to stand for betterment of the underprivileged and weaker sections of the society," the veteran leader added.

The JD(S) has two Lok Sabha members from Karnataka, including Deve Gowda.

The Congress, however, dubbed the move as an "election gimmick".

The proposed reservation will be over and above the existing 50 percent reservation enjoyed by the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, and will take the total reservation to 60 percent.

The Narendra Modi government tabled a bill in such manner in Parliament on Tuesday, which out of the blue intended to accommodate non-religion-based reservation.

The bill was presented by Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot in the Parliament.