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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has indicated that it will support reservation for economically backward people among general category just a day after a bill was passed in Rajasthan assembly for the grant of reservation for poor amongst the upper castes.

However, it was insisted by the party that there would be no negotiations with 50% quota of the SCs, STs and backwards castes. It also insisted on no support to any sort of change in the present reservation policy.

Prakash Javadekar, Union minister, said, "While keeping the 50 per cent quota intact, the development of poor among those who are not getting the benefits of reservation, besides the dalits and backwards, has been a key aspect of our concerns and programmes.”

"Today's 50 per cent reservation is not negotiable. What further affirmative actions can be taken is a different issue," the minister added.

Union minister said "this is not the issue right now", when asked about the party’s thought on amending the constitution to extend the reservation even to upper castes based on economic backwardness.

As an answer to a question related to squeezing existing pie of the general category by giving more quota, Prakash Javadekar said that the Vasundhara Raje government’s 14% reservation was meant for poor among the same group i.e. General Category.

It was recalled by Javadekar of the Raje taking a similar step as chief minister during her earlier tenure, but was blocked by the judiciary. According to him, the party was confident of it passing the muster this time.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments

Recently a review of the reservation policy was suggested by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. This triggered a political storm before Bihar assembly polls. But the Centre and BJP maintained distance from his comments. It was clarified by RSS that Bhagwat's comments do not reflect the existing quota.

On Tuesday, separated bills were passed in the Rajasthan assembly for the provision of 5% reservation to Gujjars and other communities that fall under special backward classes (SBC) while 14% reservation for economically backward classes (EBC) belonging to unreserved categories.

Also read: RSS Chief Urges For Reservation Policy Review As Patel Quota Stir Continues

-Sumana