Quota amendment harmful to constitution, feels Pawar

Terming the 10 per cent quota bill for economically backward among the general category especially for upper caste is a ‘gimmick’ played by Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said it is destructive to Constitutional structure and will have little impact on the pulse of voters.

Pawar, while, speaking with the media in Kolhapur, said, “Before the general elections, Modi government has taken such a big decision hurriedly after he sensed disgruntle among people during five state assembly polls. But people are smart enough and will show the BJP its place in ensuring polls.”

Pawar claimed the 10 per cent quota for weaker sections among general category would not stand in court. He observed that the Supreme Court had clearly stated in the past that the cap on the reservation cannot rise above the 50 per cent limit.

“According to experts, amendment to Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution permits reservation above 50 per cent is harmful to the underlying principles of the Constitution. Moreover, this move is not likely to endure in a court,” said Pawar.

Pawar further expressed strong reservations as to who would ultimately benefit from the 10 per cent quota to the economically backward sections among the general category.

“Perhaps a few educated youth in the urban pockets of Maharashtra would avail of the benefits, but the majority of the unreserved category youth in the rural hinterlands would fall behind in this case,” the NCP chief said. He also claimed the Modi government planned to extend the upcoming Budget session of Parliament in a bid to pass more ‘populist’ bills. Commenting on political films like The Accidental Prime Minister, based on former PM Manmohan Singh, and the biopic on late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, Pawar said, such films would not make much of an impression on voters and the upcoming elections.