RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments about re-examination of reservation policy have stirred proponents of social justice into branding the RSS/BJP as “anti-reservation” in the run-up to Bihar Assembly elections.
The first off the block was Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, who, in a series of tweets, demanded to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether the RSS chief’s comments are a precursor to scrapping reservation.
“The so-called tea-seller, recently-proclaimed backward leader Modi should tell us whether he will scrap reservation as decreed by his lord and master Mohan Bhagwat,” said Lalu in a tweet on Monday.
“You talk about scrapping reservation, we say that we will increase it in proportion to the demographic profile of backward castes. I challenge you to scrap reservation. It will be a test of everyone’s strength,” he further tweeted. “RSS/BJP can create atmosphere for scrapping reservation. The 80 per cent Dalit and backward classes will give them a befitting response.”
Counters assertion Both the BJP and the RSS were quick to counter Lalu’s assertions. “Right from the Jana Sangh days, the BJP has been an active proponent of reservation for SC/ST, OBC and EBC communities. It is the BJP’s firm commitment that reservation is essential for socio-economic development of these communities. We are not in favour of any re-consideration of reservation benefits being extended to these groups,” said Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
However, he said, what the BJP would like is to examine how to improve the lot of the poor and the marginal who have not enjoyed the benefits of development despite reservation. Prasad once again stressed that the BJP is “categorical that there is no need to reconsider reservation”.
At the same time, the BJP mounted a scathing attack on Lalu, questioning his track record in uplifting the lot of the OBCs.
“Has he opened one good hospital in any of the 38 districts of Bihar? Is there an ideal school in the region represented by his clan for decades? How many OBCs got jobs when he was Chief Minister? Social justice is not just sloganeering,” said BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav.
Politicising the issue The controversy erupted following Mohan Bhagwat’s interview in the latest issue of RSS mouthpiece Organiser .
'“If we had implemented this policy (reservation) as envisaged by the Constitution makers instead of doing politics over it, then the present situation would not have arrived. Since inception, it has been politicised. We believe, form a committee of people genuinely concerned about the interest of the whole nation and committed to social equality, including some representatives from the society; they should decide which categories require reservation and for how long,” Bhagwat had said.
While the BJP’s opponents in Bihar saw the RSS chief’s comments as an opportunity to expose the Sangh Parivar’s “anti-reservation” credentials, it left some NDA allies squirming. The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) fielded its general secretary Shivraj Singh to issue a terse rebuttal.
“Reservation is a settled issue in India. Constitution has mandated it. There is no cause to re-examine the issue,” he said.
The RLSP is headed by Upendra Kushwaha, who severed ties from Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) during the last Lok Sabha polls and joined hands with the BJP. Kushwaha represents an important backward caste component in the NDA’s rainbow coalition of forward castes and Dalits in Bihar.