Haryana job quota decision irks RSS
NEW DELHI: Haryana’s decision to bring in a law to reserve 75% of private-sector jobs with a salary cap of ₹50,000 monthly for locals contradicts the “one nation, one people” stance of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fount of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said an RSS functionary, familiar with the organisation’s thinking on the matter.
The Sangh’s position assumes importance given that it is a BJP-led government, which has brought in the legislation. The RSS functionary blamed political expediency for the move even as the BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) government, which faces a no-confidence motion on Wednesday, has called it a fulfilment of a key election promise.
“You cannot stop the migration of people for jobs. Such decisions have a fallout. Take the example of Bihar, where the ban on consumption of alcohol has not been effective on the ground. A similar experiment was done in Haryana by Bansi Lal when he banned alcohol [consumption] but the results on the ground showed that illegal liquor stores had sprung up all across the state,” said the RSS functionary, referring to the 1996 prohibition that was rolled back two years later under public pressure.
The functionary pointed out
Haryana would end up losing revenue if the decision is not revoked. “Companies will find a way around the law, but it is the state that will lose revenue.”
BJP leaders refused to comment on the Sangh functionary’s view, but on the merit of the issue, a BJP leader cited similar moves in other states and added they can be viewed as affirmative steps.
“There are provisions in the law that give the state powers to take steps for positive discrimination in favour of those who are deprived or neglected. In several states, reservation for local residents in the private sector has been announced,” the leader said, requesting anonymity. He was referring to the laws in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, which have been challenged in court.
Legal experts, however, believe that the law will find it hard to meet the constitutional test of equality and non discrimination. A second BJP leader acknowledged queries from industrialists and manufacturers on how the policy will be implemented on the ground.
“There are some concerns, especially now that Haryana is seen as an industrial production destination. There are fears that the workforce needed will not be available. But the government has assured that it will address concerns,” said the second leader, who did not want to be named.