Quota Redux: Is BJP playing Mandal politics with sub-categorisation of OBCs?

The news that Census 2021 will enumerate caste data has come as a mixed bag. On the one hand, such caste data was needed to illuminate the caste reality in India. After all, the last time caste was part of the Census was in 1931. That, for example, we have had OBC reservation for close to 30 years without accurate caste data is shocking. So the next Census reflecting caste data is a good thing.

That said, the Centre is also pitching for sub-categorisation of OBCs, ostensibly to identify the weakest sections among this category. While this might seem sensible, it will only be praiseworthy if sub-categorisation is used to rationalise reservation benefits by removing those groups that no longer require quotas. But the word doing the rounds is that the Narendra Modi government is only looking at sub-categorisation to cultivate vote banks among the non-dominant OBCs.

If this is true, then BJP would be no different from so-called Mandal parties. In fact, its slogan of ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ will be exposed as fraud. For a party that professes to work for a united India without favour to any community, using sub-categorisation for electoral benefits is downright hypocritical. So if BJP is serious about reining in an unbridled reservation system, it should demonstrate this by culling the number of groups deserving reservations.

This will be a challenging task given that even dominant, well-off communities are demanding quota benefits today. And if they get the short end of the stick after sub-categorisation, then the problem will only get exacerbated. Therefore, the only solution lies in grabbing the reservation bull by the horns. BJP should walk the talk and display the courage to restrain runaway reservations.