BSP to make quota in promotion a poll issue

MAYASPEAK Says that after the apex court order, the onus to give reservation in promotion to SC/ST employees is on the BJP govt

LUCKNOW : The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) plans to make reservation in promotion for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) government employees a major campaign issue to mobilise Dalits in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, a party leader said. In a press statement, she said the BSP had struggled hard in Parliament and outside it for reservation in promotion for SC/ST employees. After the Supreme Court order, the onus was on the BJP governments at the Centre and in the states to give reservation in promotion to SC/ST employees.

LUCKNOW: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) plans to make reservation in promotion for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) government employees a major campaign issue to mobilise Dalits in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, a party leader said.

Immediately after the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to refer its previous order on quota in job promotion to a larger bench and upheld a previous verdict giving states the right to decide on the matter while adhering to guidelines laid down by the court, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati claimed credit for the order.

In a press statement, she said the BSP had struggled hard in Parliament and outside it for res-

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The BJP leadership claims to be a wellwisher of the Dalit community. Now, the time has come to prove this by implementing the apex court order

MAYAWATI, BSP chief

ervation in promotion for SC/ST employees. After the Supreme Court order, the onus was on the BJP governments at the Centre and in the states to give reservation in promotion to SC/ST employees, she said.

“The BJP leadership claims to be a well-wisher of the Dalit community. Now, the time has come to prove this by implementing the apex court order,” she said.

She said the Rajya Sabha had passed a bill granting reservation in promotion during the UPA government, but NDA government made no effort to get the bill passed in the Lok Sabha or to bring Constitution Amendment bill, as demanded by the BSP.

Mayawati said the central government should direct the state governments, as well as government departments, to grant reservation in promotion to the SC/ST employees. Instead of giving a free hand to the central and state government, the apex court should have directed the government to implement quota in job promotion strictly, she said.

A BSP leader, who did not wish to be named, said, “Behanji (Mayawati) has already directed the party leaders to make reservation in promotion a campaign plank in the 2019 Lok Sabha elec- tion.

The BSP will counter the BJP’s efforts to make inroads in its Schedule Caste vote bank by projecting the ruling party as antiDalit. The central and state government’s dilly-dallying tactics have come in handy for the BSP to attack the BJP.”

Hundreds of SC/ST employees were granted promotion when the BSP was in power in UP in 2007-12.

The Samajwadi Party and upper caste organizations had opposed the BSP government decision at the time. After the SP won power, the employees promoted earlier were reverted to their earlier posts due to the Allahabad high court striking down an earlier government order, an SP leader said.

SC/ST job promotion quota: Supreme Court refuses to refer its order to larger bench