Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has voiced his opposition to the 50% cap on reservation in employment and education. While addressing the conference of All India Federation for Social Justice, Stalin argued that each state should have the power to decide the quantum of quota based on the population of deserving sections. He referred to Tamil Nadu’s reservation of 69% as an example of why the cap should not be enforced.
Moreover, Stalin criticized the BJP-led government for not properly implementing the reservation policy. He emphasized that granting reservation should be the right of the states, and the power to apportion it based on population proportion should rest with state governments. Stalin also questioned the BJP’s commitment to social justice, stating that if they were truly interested, they would have implemented the 27% reservation policy during their nine years in power.
Stalin targeted RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for expressing support for reservation, accusing him of attempting to deceive marginalized sections ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. He highlighted the contribution of late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in pressuring the VP Singh government to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission in 1990. Stalin credited the Dravidian movement, which was founded to ensure social justice and an egalitarian society, for the progress made in Tamil Nadu and other states.
In conclusion, Stalin urged the Central government to implement two demands made by M Karunanidhi in 1973 regarding quota for Scheduled Castes in central government jobs and a specific quantum of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Backward sections in government posts. He emphasized the importance of social justice and stated that various states, including Tamil Nadu, are providing it through caste-based reservation systems.
Sources:
– PTI/FILE