A historic move: LJP
New Delhi: BJP ally Lok Janshakti Party Monday hailed as “historic” the government’s decision to give 10 per cent quota to the economically weaker sections in the general category, saying the poor from all castes and religions deserves support.
LJP leader Chirag Paswan said in a statement that the poor are a group in themselves and should never be discriminated on the ground of castes as he welcomed the decision. His party, Paswan said, has since its inception supported quota for the upper castes poor and that the LJP was happy with this decision. It is a historic move, he said.
A masterstroke: BJP and allies
New Delhi: Hailing the government’s decision to give 10 per cent quota to “economically weaker” sections from the general category, the BJP and its allies Monday termed it a “historic” step and “masterstroke”. BJP vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe described the reservation for upper castes as a step to widen the social justice net. “Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic decision of extending job quotas for economically weaker sections. A commendable step widening the social justice net and underscoring the inclusive approach of the government,” he said.
An electoral stunt: Bihar Oppn
Patna: Opposition parties in Bihar, which have come together and formed a Grand Alliance to take on the BJP-led NDA in the next Lok Sabha polls, on Monday dismissed as an electoral stunt the Narendra Modi governments decision to extend 10 per cent reservations to the economically backward among the upper castes. Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwaha, who was a Union minister till a month ago, said while in NDA whenever I sought to draw the governments attention towards inadequacy of the 50 per cent ceiling on quotas,
I was offered the alibi that it was fixed by the Supreme Court and breaking the barrier would require a constitutional amendment.Now, I wonder how they are going to implement this proposed quota unless they bring in the necessary constitutional amendment. It is, of course, an electoral stunt, another example of jumlebaazi (rhetoric).
A historic decision: Uttarakhand CM
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Monday hailed as “historic” the Union Cabinet’s “approval” of 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker sections in the general category. “Reservations on economic basis was being demanded by the economically weaker sections in the general category across the country for a long time.
This step of the central government will benefit them,” Rawat said. Describing the decision as “historic”, the chief minister said it was a step taken in the direction of realizing the concept of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”. It will also benefit the economically backward upper caste people of Uttarakhand and the state’s youth, he said.
A major step by NDA govt: UP Dy CM
Dehradun: UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Monday welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval for 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward section in the general category and said the slogan of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ is truly reflected in the decision. “For the first any government has risen above caste and religion and has taken a decision for the poor. This is a major step taken by the NDA government, and we welcome it,” he told PTI. “The slogan of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ is truly reflected in this, and all the parties must welcome it, as there is no religion to poor and poverty,” he said.
Mamata wary of feasibility
Howrah: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wondered if the Centre’s approval to a 10 per cent reservation for economically backward upper castes in government jobs would be at all feasible. “I will be very happy if the weaker section gets job. Firstly, the government has to clarify whether it will be implemented or not, whether it is constitutionally valid or not and whether it is legally valid or not and whether it is feasible or not,” Banerjee said.
Indication of Modi’s defeat: Guj Cong
Ahmedabad: Senior Gujarat Congress leader Bharatsinh Solanki said the decision indicated that the Modi government was staring at defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. “Gujarat Congress had announced (before 2017 Assembly elections) that if it forms a government, it will offer reservations to economically weaker sections among the upper castes,” he said. “If reservation is implemented and does not remain empty claims, then this is right.
The BJP and its PM is staring at defeat in upcoming elections,” he said. Attacking the Centre further, Solanki said, “The BJP government waived off Rs 3.5 lakh crore corporate loans but refuses loan waiver to farmers. If the same money was allotted for public use, issues of farmers, small businesses and jobs would have been addressed.”
Unconstitutional: AIMIM chief
Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said the Constitution doesn’t permit reservations on economic grounds. Reacting to reports that the Union Cabinet has approved 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward section in the general category, Owaisi said reservations are to correct historical injustice to Dalits.
JD(U) seeks all-party support
New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), a BJP ally, on Monday welcomed the government’s decision to give 10 per cent quota to the poor in the general category and said the move will bring economically backward sections of upper castes in the mainstream of development. In a statement, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said all political parties should support the constitutional amendment bill in the Parliament to help the socially and economically deprived sections of upper castes.