Mayawati Criticizes Congress Over SC/ST Reservation Issues
On August 11, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati criticized the Congress party for not addressing the creamy layer issue in SC/ST reservations in Parliament. She pointed out that despite winning 99 seats, Congress did not raise its voice on this matter.
Mayawati mentioned that Congress National President’s remarks about consulting NGOs and lawyers indicate the party’s support for sub-classification. She also accused Congress of not giving proper credit to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar for reservations, instead attributing it to Pandit Nehru and Gandhiji.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded by saying it is wrong to talk about the creamy layer and that the BJP-led government should have resolved the issue with a constitutional amendment during the budget session. He added that the government is eliminating jobs by selling public sector units and attacking reservations.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Constitution, drafted by BR Ambedkar, does not provide for a creamy layer in SC/ST reservations. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussed the Supreme Court judgment on sub-categorization of reservations for SCs and STs.
Doubts Revealed
Mayawati -: Mayawati is a prominent Indian politician and the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which focuses on representing the Dalits and other marginalized communities.
Bahujan Samaj Party -: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a political party in India that primarily represents the Dalits, who are historically marginalized communities.
Congress -: The Congress, or Indian National Congress, is one of the major political parties in India. It has a long history and has been in power many times since India’s independence.
SC/ST reservations -: SC/ST reservations are special provisions in India that reserve a certain percentage of government jobs and educational seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to help them overcome historical disadvantages.
creamy layer -: The ‘creamy layer’ refers to the wealthier and more educated members of the backward classes who are excluded from reservation benefits to ensure that the truly needy get the help.
sub-classification -: Sub-classification means dividing a larger group into smaller groups. In this context, it refers to dividing SC/ST communities into smaller categories for reservation benefits.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar -: Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a key figure in Indian history who fought for the rights of Dalits and other marginalized communities. He is also known as the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
Mallikarjun Kharge -: Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior Indian politician and the current President of the Indian National Congress party.
BJP -: The BJP, or Bharatiya Janata Party, is another major political party in India. It is currently the ruling party and is known for its nationalist policies.
constitutional amendment -: A constitutional amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution of India. It requires approval from both houses of Parliament and sometimes the states.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw -: Ashwini Vaishnaw is a Union Minister in the Indian government, responsible for various departments. He is a member of the BJP.
