Notwithstanding Centre’s clarification today that review of the existing quota regime was not on its agenda, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati joined the Opposition clamour against the BJP’s ideological fountainhead RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat for his pitch for review.
Mayawati said she would launch a nationwide stir if the Narendra Modi government heeded to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s push for quota review.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said neither the BJP nor the government was in favour of any review of the quota policy. He stated this following meeting of the Cabinet.
“Our government is not in favour of making any change in the existing reservation policy for the SCs, STs, Backward Castes and extremely Backward Castes,” Prasad said.
Joining the Opposition chorus, Mayawati launched a blitzkrieg against Bhagwat. Last Sunday, he had batted for its review on grounds that it had been used to subserve political ends. He suggested constitution of a committee to study the present implementation of the policy.
The former UP Chief Minister said: “We did the same thing and forced the Atal Bihar Vajpayee government to withdraw its agenda of ending reservations on its pretext of review of the Constitution.”
“The RSS wants to turn the clock back and push the Dalits and the downtrodden into the dark ages of exploitation,” she added.
Lalu Prasad of the RJD and others had already attacked the Sangh Parivar on the quota row.
Mayawati also accused the BJP-led NDA government of indulging in political vendetta by using the CBI to target her. The CBI had on Monday said it would question her regarding the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam during her rule in UP.
Prasad debunked her assertion. “The CBI does its work on the basis of proofs,” he said.
She said the CBI had sprung into action against her in view of the Bihar Assembly elections and the fast approaching Uttar Pradesh elections. She wondered why the agency decided to act after four years in the case.
Mayawati said she would launch a nationwide stir if the Narendra Modi government heeded to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s push for quota review.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said neither the BJP nor the government was in favour of any review of the quota policy. He stated this following meeting of the Cabinet.
“Our government is not in favour of making any change in the existing reservation policy for the SCs, STs, Backward Castes and extremely Backward Castes,” Prasad said.
Joining the Opposition chorus, Mayawati launched a blitzkrieg against Bhagwat. Last Sunday, he had batted for its review on grounds that it had been used to subserve political ends. He suggested constitution of a committee to study the present implementation of the policy.
The former UP Chief Minister said: “We did the same thing and forced the Atal Bihar Vajpayee government to withdraw its agenda of ending reservations on its pretext of review of the Constitution.”
“The RSS wants to turn the clock back and push the Dalits and the downtrodden into the dark ages of exploitation,” she added.
Lalu Prasad of the RJD and others had already attacked the Sangh Parivar on the quota row.
Mayawati also accused the BJP-led NDA government of indulging in political vendetta by using the CBI to target her. The CBI had on Monday said it would question her regarding the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam during her rule in UP.
Prasad debunked her assertion. “The CBI does its work on the basis of proofs,” he said.
She said the CBI had sprung into action against her in view of the Bihar Assembly elections and the fast approaching Uttar Pradesh elections. She wondered why the agency decided to act after four years in the case.
