Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s ‘reservation politics’ is in controversy. BJP and BSP are directly attacking Rahul’s statement on reservation in America. BJP says that Congress is against reservation and Rahul’s statement has revealed its truth. BSP chief Mayawati is constantly raising questions on Congress’s policies. Mayawati has even expressed apprehension that if Congress comes to power, it will abolish reservation. At present, Congress, which has raised the demand for caste-based census, is surrounded on all sides in this entire controversy. Let us understand why BSP chief Mayawati suddenly became active on the reservation controversy?
1. What did Rahul say that caused controversy?
First know what Rahul Gandhi has said in America? Actually, Rahul Gandhi reached Georgetown University in America two days ago to address the students. Here, when the students asked Rahul about reservation in India and asked how long will it continue? On this, Rahul Gandhi said, Congress party will think about ending reservation only when India will be discrimination-free and there will be fairness in terms of reservation. This is not the case right now.
Rahul said that the problem is that 90 percent of India’s population is not able to participate. We are not treating the disease. That is the problem. There are many people, who are from upper castes, who say what have we done wrong? Why are we being punished? Then you think about dramatically increasing the supply of some of these things. You think about decentralization of power.
2. ‘If Congress comes to power it will abolish reservation’
The controversy escalated on this statement of Rahul Gandhi. BSP chief Mayawati was seen to be the most aggressive. She targeted Rahul Gandhi and Congress by tweeting in a series of tweets. Mayawati said, the Congress government did not implement OBC reservation while being in power at the center for a long time. Caste-based census was not allowed in the country and now this party is dreaming of coming to power under its cover. Beware of their drama, which will never be able to conduct caste census in the future. Their talk of increasing the reservation limit in the country from 50 percent is also a hoax, because if their intentions were clear in this matter, then this work would have definitely been done in the previous Congress governments. Congress neither implemented OBC reservation nor implemented SC/ST reservation properly.
3. Rahul clarified saying- I am not against reservation
When the controversy grew, Rahul Gandhi clarified. In Washington DC, Rahul said, my statement has been misrepresented. What we are saying is different from the idea of reservation. We want a comprehensive understanding of what is going on and then want to implement a series of policies to fix it. Reservation is also one of them. We are going to increase reservation beyond 50 percent. I have been saying this repeatedly and have never been against reservation. Yesterday someone misrepresented my statement that I am against reservation. But let me make it clear that I am not against reservation. We want reservation to be 50%.
4. ‘People should be alert of Congress’ conspiracy’
Mayawati further said, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s clarification that he is not against reservation is clearly a misleading false statement. Before BJP came to power, their government was in power for 10 years at the centre and together with SP, they did not let the SC/ST reservation bill in promotion get passed, this is proof of this. It is clear from this that when Congress is not in power, it talks big about the interests and welfare of these neglected SC/ST/OBC classes for the sake of their votes, but when it is in power, it continuously works against their interests. These people should be cautious of this conspiracy of theirs.
5. ‘Congress is pretending to save the Constitution’
Mayawati had cornered Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday also over reservation. Mayawati wrote on X, Be cautious of this drama of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in which he has said abroad that when India will be in a better condition, we will end the reservation of SC, ST and OBC. This makes it clear that Congress has been conspiring to end their reservation for years. People of these classes should be cautious of this deadly statement of Rahul Gandhi, because this party will definitely end their reservation under the pretext of this statement as soon as it comes to power at the center. These people must be cautious of this party which is pretending to save the constitution and reservation.
Mayawati said that in reality Congress has always been anti-reservation. When their reservation quota was not fulfilled in their government at the centre, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar resigned from the post of law minister because he did not get justice from this party. People should be cautious. Overall, until casteism is completely eradicated from the country, despite the situation in India being relatively better, the social, economic and educational condition of these classes is not going to improve. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the correct constitutional system of reservation until casteism is completely eradicated.
Politics in the name of narrative!
When BJP gave the slogan of crossing 400 in the Lok Sabha election campaign, Congress used the Constitution as a weapon for counter attack and set the narrative that BJP is talking about crossing 400 because it is trying to change the Constitution. From campaigning to press conferences in the general election, Rahul was seen carrying the Constitution book in his hands. The effect of this narrative was that BJP had to suffer a big loss and the party could not even get an absolute majority on its own. Whereas Rahul Gandhi and his alliance partners directly benefited from this. Currently, parties like BJP and BSP are doing the same thing with Congress on Rahul’s statement regarding reservation.
What is the meaning of Mayawati suddenly becoming active?
There are elections in Haryana. BSP is in the fray here with Indian National Lok Dal. This alliance is facing tough competition from Chandrashekhar’s Azadi Samaj Party and Jannayak Janata Party. BSP’s base is SC-ST voters. In the general elections, these voters have been seen shifting to India Block. The challenge before such a party is to bring back its core voters and be seen at the forefront in the fight for their rights.
INLD is contesting on 53 seats and BSP on 37 seats, which includes all SC reserved seats. On the other hand, JJP is contesting on 70 seats and Chandrashekhar’s party on 20 seats. BSP’s influence is decreasing in Haryana. UP is already facing continuous setbacks. If we look at the total vote share of BSP in Haryana, it was 6.7 percent in 2009, which decreased to 4.2 percent in 2019. Congress is trying to create a social equation of Jats, Dalits and Muslims here. In such a situation, BSP is seen alert in the possibility of division of SC voters.
According to the 2011 census, the share of Scheduled Castes in Haryana’s population is 20.2 percent. There are 17 reserved seats for this community in the Assembly. The population of Scheduled Castes in rural areas is 22.5 percent and in urban areas it is 15.8 percent.
Experts say that Mayawati is seen to be active on the issue of reservation to keep her party in the mainstream. To maintain the Dalit vote bank in Uttar Pradesh and other states, it is important that the BSP presents itself as a major advocate of the rights of Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Backwards. Mayawati’s counter-attack after Rahul Gandhi’s statement may be an indication that she wants to show herself different from the Congress.
Since both Congress and BSP have been seen strongly advocating reservation for scheduled castes, tribes and other backward classes, Mayawati has given the message by being active that her party is still committed to reservation and Dalit politics. By doing this, she does not want to leave Congress alone on this issue. It is Mayawati’s need to remain active in politics, especially when the influence of many regional parties is decreasing. In such a situation, by being active on a sensitive issue like reservation, she is trying to maintain the relevance of her party.
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