Athavale seeks quotas for poor among the upper castes

PATNA: Favouring extension of reservation benefits to the poor among the upper castes, Union Minister Ramdas Athavale on Thursday urged the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre to consider bringing in a law that could facilitate the same without violating the Supreme Court’s cap on quotas.

Athavale, who is Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and a RPI leader, made a statement to this effect at a function held here to mark the birth anniversary of Bihar’s first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Singh which was attended by top leaders of the BJP.

Turning towards Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravishankar Prasad, Athavale said “I would request you to bring a law…..The Supreme Court has laid down that quotas must not exceed 50 per cent. But we can set apart a portion of the 50 per cent that remains unreserved for those who belong to the upper castes but are poor”.

“Please pay heed to this demand, which I have raised on the floor of the Parliament and at an NDA meeting where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present”, Athavale said adding that as a follower of B R Ambedkar, “I am opposed to casteism and not to the upper castes”. (AGENCIES)

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