BSP all set to make SC order on promotion quota a poll issue

LUCKNOW: The BSP is set to make Supreme Court verdict on reservation in promotions to SC/ST government employees an election issue and expose what it called the "antidalit stance of the ruling BJP".

The Supreme Court on Wednesday paved the way for grant of quota for promotions in the government jobs to SCS and STS, holding that the states were not required to "collect quantifiable data" reflecting the backwardness among these communities. "The issue has been of utter importance to the party which had been raising it both in and out of Parliament so much so that Con- stitutional Amendment for the same had to be passed in the Rajya Sabha during the then UPA government and after yesterday's verdict the party will definitely make it an election issue," a party insider said on condition of anonymity.

He claimed that the states and Centre have been given the freedom to either implement it or not and the party is of the belief that most of the state governments will rather prefer not implementing it. "The BSP will make every effort to ensure that the deprived SCS/STS get their rights," he said. Party president Mayawati Wednesday demanded that if the Centre was actually a well-wisher of these sections, it should send a letter to the states and also the departments concerned to take the verdict in a positive manner and implement it. "At the Centre, and also in most of the states, there are governments which are against this issue and I do not feel the benefits will be extended promptly," she said.

He said Mayawati is expected to issue directives to the BSP leaders in this regard shortly "though there is a clear understanding that it will be a major election issue, especially in the light of yesterday's verdict," he said.