Await the Day When No One Needs Reservation
The Supreme Court has asked: “For how many more generations will reservations in jobs and education sectors continue?” This question has arisen in the context of providing reservation for Marathas. The court has expressed anguish over the arguments that the maximum limit for reservation should be removed. In Maharashtra, Marathas are not ‘ex-untouchables’ and have obtained preferential representation in religious, political, economic and other sectors. Despite this, they have been demanding reservation using people, wealth, and political might.
Undoubtedly, this demand, if conceded, is going to directly hit the economically weaker sections of Dalit and Backward Classes. When upper castes including Marathas demand reservation, the first question that the court should ask: ‘Are you experiencing caste exploitation or untouchability in society’? or ‘Have you been inadequately represented in political and education spheres due to caste exploitation or untouchability’? These two questions prove that they would not be eligible for reservations. But no judge or constitutional expert ever asks such a question to upper and forward castes. Not only this, the communities eligible for reservation remained silent and gave their permission when ten per cent reservation was provided for the poor in the upper castes. Of late, many upper castes are demanding reservation. Even though these advanced communities do not require reservation, certain forces are instigating them to fight for reservation. The stark reality is that this is an RSS ploy to remove reservation and these agitations are not being taken up with any concern for the respective castes or communities.
The question ‘How long will reservation continue’ was not raised by the Judge but he was made to ask such a question. By providing ten per cent reservation for the upper caste poor, the objective of reservation has already been defeated. Reservation has not met any of its objectives so far or the powerful upper caste lobby in the establishment have not allowed its effective implementation. To this date, lower caste people are involved in manual scavenging. A handful of Dalits benefited out of reservation, got educated, and obtained the best jobs. These educated Dalits have hardly tried to uplift their brethren or implement reservation for them. Many of them maintained a distance from the same Dalit community they were part of the moment they experienced the life of upper classes. The situation would not have become so grim if those who saw better life thanks to reservation had taken interest in other Dalits. As Dalit movements weakened, strong communities started asking for their share in reservation. This reached a stage with upper caste poor given ten per cent reservation. If developed communities start grabbing a share of reservation, the reservation provided to weaker sections will shrink. If the concept of reservation tried to empower the disempowered weaker sections, the country is seeing a trend where the powerful and empowered sections are demanding more benefits. Society has accepted all this silently. When various castes hit the street to demand fresh or more reservation, the discussion that ensues is that ‘nobody needs reservation.’ It is obvious that a big conspiracy is being hatched to make sure that reservation is eventually removed by projecting that reservation is the reason for all confusion in the society.
The first question that the court has to ask is: “Does caste-based exploitation exist”? If an answer is found to this question, an answer can be found to the question of whether reservation should continue or not. Even to this day, this country has Dalit colonies and Dalits are being exploited inhumanly. A situation is created where Dalits riding a horse at their weddings are attacked. It is not that the Judges are not aware of this. Let the judiciary obtain a report about the extent to which the lives of Dalits have improved after reservation. And if their lives have not been improved, it should probe as to why there has been no improvement. Then the truth will emerge. Today, the responsibility should be to make sure that reservation is implemented effectively and not to do away with reservation on the pretext that ‘the period of reservation is over.’ If Patels, Jats, or other castes exert pressure for reservation, the extent of representation that these castes have obtained when compared to other castes should be examined. Based on this, a decision on whether reservation should be provided or not should be taken. The only answer to the question ‘For how many generations reservation should continue’ is ‘Reservation should continue through generations as long as caste exploitation continues. When those who face caste exploitation get maximum representation in politics, industries, education spheres, then reservation can be removed.’ Let’s wait for such a day!
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Modi should leverage his ties with world leaders to de-escalate war in West Asia: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said India can play a meaningful role in de-escalation in West Asia, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong relations with the warring countries and their neighbours.
He said Pakistan was leveraging ties with Iran and the United States, and that any effort towards ending the war should be welcomed.
"As I said in the House (Assembly), we would like the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the prime minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He, however, said any escalation would not be easy to manage.
"Any such move by US President Donald Trump, despite the long history of Iran resisting external domination, would not be easy," the chief minister said.
Asked about Pakistan mediating in the war, he said, "I will simply say that if any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it."
He added, "I will repeat what I said … our prime minister has good and close relations with all countries — whether it is Israel, the United States, Iran, or the countries around Iran. If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help ease the situation, it would be a good thing."
Abdullah said attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, as suggested by a report from the United States, are not unlikely.
Meanwhile, he asserted that any efforts to end the war, be it from Pakistan, must not be resisted.
"Pakistan is using its good relations with Iran and the United States to its advantage, and it has done so. How can we object to that? If that angle helps in stopping the war, would you want them not to act and let the war continue? We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so," he said.
On unemployment in J-K, the chief minister said the issue cannot be resolved overnight, and government jobs alone are not the solution.
He stressed the need to explore alternative avenues, highlighting the importance of Mission Yuva in promoting entrepreneurship.
"Mission Yuva provides not just funding but also support in preparing DPRs and post-startup assistance, such as marketing. In just nine months, distributing Rs 1,000 crore and approving numerous schemes is a significant achievement," he said.
Abdullah credited the coordination between the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank for the scheme's progress.
