NEW DELHI: With Haryana in turmoil over the Jat reservation issue, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said a non-political committee should be formed to decide on the eligibility for reservation. He stressed that everyone should get equal opportunities and reservation must be given to those who need it, rather than those who claim it as their birth right.
In wake of the Jat agitation in Haryana, where the BJP is in power, his remarks are likely to be used by Opposition parties to attack the government. Bhagwat had suggested a similar mechanism last September in an interview to the Sangh mouthpiece Organiser. However, at that time, the comments kicked up a row during the Bihar polls and is believed to have played a part in the BJP’s electoral loss though Bhagwat and the RSS clarified that they were not against reservations and wanted the benefits to reach the marginalised.
Participating in an interactive session of a Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, Bhagwat said, “Many people are demanding reservation. I feel a committee should be formed to decide who are eligible for reservation. The committee should be apolitical so that there are no vested interests.
“Which section of the society should be brought forward, for how long they should be given reservation — a timebound programme should be chalked out regarding it. The committee should be given powers for execution,” he explained.
Advocating a level-playing field, Bhagwat said, “There should be level-playing field for everybody in the society. Everybody should get equal opportunities.”
“But only because of someone’s birth a person does not get the opportunity — this should not be the case. As long as this problem prevails, this situation (reservation) will be there,” he added.
Bhagwat said after Independence, B R Ambedkar had stressed on economic independence and independence from social discrimination and said as long as the latter existed there would be the issue of reservation. “... this problem of social discrimination still exists. There should be a level playing field for everybody in terms of opportunities. We feel there should not be any social discrimination in the society,” he said.
(With Agencies Inputs)