Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeGovernment and PolicyReservation for the poor: Promised by Congress in 3 election manifestos, delivered by the...

Reservation for the poor: Promised by Congress in 3 election manifestos, delivered by the Modi government

The Congress party had promised reservation for poor in several election manifestos, never to deliver

In what was dubbed a political masterstroke yesterday, the Union Cabinet had approved a bill for 10% reservation, reportedly for the economically weaker sections in government jobs and education.

The proposition will require a constitutional amendment to increase the reservation cap from 50% to 60%, for which the union government plans to table the bill in the parliament today.

The bill, after the cabinet approval yesterday, created a massive stir in political and media circles. Many political parties and prominent leaders, visibly agitated over the move, went on to call it a Jumla.


Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala stated in a press conference that the move by the central government just a few months before elections is a question mark on the government’s intentions.


Several political leaders, who have themselves made their present positions over caste-based politics, have proceeded to call it a ‘Jumla’. Hardik Patel, Tejaswi Yadav and many others joined in.

However, the Congress questioning the timing of the move is a bit rich, for the party had itself tried desperately to lure Jats before the 2014 general elections. The UPA-II under Manmohan Singh had decided to include Jats under the OBC category in March 2014, barely weeks before the general elections.

The Jat reservation move was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015.

Nevertheless, Congress will still be shooting on its own foot if it attempts to stall the government’s move, because Congress, in its elections manifestos through 2004, 2009 and 2014 had promised reservation for the economically weaker sections, (EWS) without compromising the reservation quota for SC, ST and OBC.

This is the relevant portion of the Congress’ 2014 manifesto:

Congress manifesto 2014

The first point in page 22, under the section ‘Empowering Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes, states that the party aims to provide reservation in education and employment for the EWS without in any way affecting existing reservations for SC, ST and OBCs.

In the 2009 Election Manifesto as well, Congress had promised the same reservation. Here is the relevant portion of the party’s 2009 election manifesto:

Congress 2009 manifesto

The 2009 manifesto states in the para 7, page 16 that the party pledges to carve out reservation for the EWS without prejudice to the existing reservations for SC, ST and OBCs.

Even in the 2004 manifesto, Congress had made the same promise of providing reservation for the EWS from the sections that are not entitled to reservation currently.

It is interesting that what Congress has promised since 2004 had now seen the light of day under the Modi government. Essentially, in the entire 10-year tenure of Congress from 2004 to 2014, the Congress government had vowed to bring in reservation for the Economically backward but had never done it. The Modi government has delivered in less than 5 years of its tenure.

It is evident that the Modi government in its recent move is finally delivering what the Congress had promised since at least 15 years and had failed to uphold in a decade of being in power since 2004. Any counter comments by Congress leaders over the move is only going to be an embarrassing self-goal.

Ayodhra Ram Mandir special coverage by OpIndia

  Support Us  

Whether NDTV or 'The Wire', they never have to worry about funds. In name of saving democracy, they get money from various sources. We need your support to fight them. Please contribute whatever you can afford

Sanghamitra
Sanghamitra
reader, writer, dreamer, no one

Related Articles

Trending now

Recently Popular

- Advertisement -

Connect with us

255,564FansLike
665,518FollowersFollow
41,500SubscribersSubscribe