Mayawati demands quota for poor among upper castes

NEW DELHI: In what appeared to be an attempt to woo the upper castes ahead of 2017 assembly elections in UP, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday demanded a separate quota for poor among upper castes and reservation benefits for Muslim and Christian dalits, tribals and OBCs.

Sections of upper castes, especially Brahmins, were said to be instrumental in the BSP's ascension to power in 2007 assembly elections but the party drew a blank in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Participating in a debate on commitment to India’s Constitution in the Rajya Sabha, Mayawati also took a dig at actor Aamir Khan for his controversial remarks on growing intolerance.

She said that film personalities should draw inspiration from Dr BR Ambedkar who never thought of leaving the country despite the odds being stacked against the iconic Dalit leader. She said Ambedkar dealt with the tough circumstances before him in an intelligent way and fought for the people without ever thinking of leaving the country.

Referring to a “film star from the Muslim community”, she said, “People shouldn’t leave the country and they should follow Ambedkar’s path to find solutions to their problems.”

Khan had said that he was alarmed by a number of incidents and his wife Kiran Rao had even suggested that they should probably leave the country.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had also invoked Ambedkar in Parliament last week, saying despite insults, the Dalit leader never said he would leave India. Singh’s remarks were seen as a jibe against Khan. Mayawati also lashed out at the government over alleged intolerance and communalism, seeking action against union minister VK Singh for his controversial ‘dog’ remark on the killing of Dalit children in Haryana. Hitting out at the minister, she said Singh should be dropped from the council of ministers and sent to jail “where such people deserve to be.”

She threatened to take to the streets if the government made any attempts to review the existing law for SC/ST and OBCs. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had called for a review of the reservation system ahead of the Bihar elections. Mayawati linked the BJP’s subsequent pro-reservation statements to the party’s dismal performance in the Bihar polls.

The BSP leader went on to seek reservation for Dalits and tribals in promotions in the government and the private sector and inclusion of reservation in 9th Schedule of the Constitution.