Our preamble of the Indian Constitution says, that India is “sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic” then how can the caste system prevail and consequently reservations? Today, this evil system persists and plays a vital role in the society as the major weapon for vote bank politics.
The whole perspective of Mandal commission regarding reservations are gradually being extended and expanded to sections of people, demanding reservations within reservations, in State and Central jobs. Earlier we had seen the agitation of the Gujarat and now the Jat’s. The agitators have found a simple way to force the attention of political leaders and the concerned Government, by affecting the rail movement. Consciously, they try to influence the economy of the country.
Recently, casteism in Indian politics, surfaced with the Jat agitation for reservation, has taken a serious turn and has brought the State to a grinding halt by affecting the rail movement. The Jat community had given an ultimatum to the Central Government to consider their demand for reservation. Moreover, they have assured to refer the cause of reservation for Jats to the NBCC (National Backward Classes Commission).In this context, neither the Jat community nor the Government is in conciliatory mood and as it appears, Government will not to be a silent spectator, if violence broke out.
The rail blockade and the announcement to disrupt the movement of essential commodities to New Delhi, has prompted the Union Home Minister to invite the agitators for discussion. On Wednesday the 30th of March the discussion was held on the intervention of the Prime Minister. A 15 member delegation from the State of UP, Haryana, and other parts of the country took part in the meeting. Whatever is the outcome of the meeting, if the issue is not specifically announced, the Jat agitation will continue. Meanwhile the Congress party is noticeably refraining itself from making any comments, apprehending political ramification.
On the other hand, RLD supremo, Ajit Singh has openly supported few demands of the Jats and suggested that the Union Government should review the situation. His contention was, since the Jats are given reservation status in the State jobs, why the Center should not provide for the same. Many political parties are watching and contemplating to encash this casteism with a political motive. He went a step ahead and openly blamed the Mayawati Government for the uprise in the Jat movement and refuted her for her devious aspiration to gain a political foothold, among the Jats keeping in view the forthcoming assembly elections.
It is ridiculous that the political parties involved in exploiting casteism in the reservation scheme. While evaluating the political situation in UP, it is observed that, although Mayawati Government is for the Dalit, only a few sections of SC and ST has the high handed opportunity. In UP the Schedule Tribes are negligible in count, thus the larger benefit is being enjoyed by a selected section of Schedule Castes.
Apart from politics, other issue like reservations in education and in best jobs is also becoming controversial, each day. The major stress in education is to help prevent the socio-economic disparity among various societies by reservations in different stages and faculties. The law of the land allows 7.5% reservation for ST, a staggering 15% for SC and another 27% for OBC, in higher education alone. Government is spending crores to uplift them, but the blossoming result is yet to be seen. A very delicate situation is observed these days among the reserved and scheduled groups, with their caste and creed notions. They are becoming increasingly demanding, which may have a negative consequence, when the so-called majority group will be devoid of its proportional benefit. Is it not proper to have an audit on the reservation policy for examining the expenses, implementation and benefits, that has been achieved by various Governments, after so many years of Independence?
There are few questions that come to the mind: Was the reservation system necessary after a certain period of Independence? Has the country been benefited by such scheme? Is it not a fact that the political parties are exploiting the sentiment of people by instigating casteism? I fail to understand when our preamble of the Indian Constitution says, that India is “sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic” how can the caste system prevail and consequently reservations? It is purely for political mileage.
Reservation should be based upon financial grounds not on the basis of caste.
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