Chennai: An all party Legislative party meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin "rejected" the 103rd Constitutional Amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the government jobs and educational institutions by the Centre.
The meeting slammed the provision as an enabler of "caste-discrimination" among the poor as it excluded those from the SC, ST and OBC categories. BJP and Principal opposition AIADMK boycotted the meeting. AiADMK urged the state government to "strongly" register its opinions when a review petition is filed.
Stalin wondered how those with an annual income of Rs 8 lakh can be categorised as poor to avail of the quota for EWS. "If this amendment is accepted, the very social justice concept will wither away with time. They will remove the 'socially and economically backward' (clause) and bring 'economically' everywhere. That is why we opposed this in Parliament and voted against it," he said.
Stalin said the Constitution had mandated social and educational backwardness as the measure for reservation. Taking on critics of reservation, he said those who had complained of compromise in merit were now welcoming the 10 per cent quota.
"I don't need to elobrate on the subtlety. Neither do I want to talk about the political benefits aimed in this. Whatever may be their (BJP-led NDA) intention, reservation based on economic status is contrary to social justice, contrary to the Constitution," Stalin said. In fact, when earlier demands were made to include the word 'Economically' over the first Constitutional amendment over reservation, neither the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru nor the then Law Minister B R Ambedkar were in favour.
Their opposition's stand should not be construed as impeding the poor among the forward castes. "We will not prevent any scheme for the poor as witnessing the smile on the poor person's face is the policy of Anna," or CN Annadurai, the late DMK founder and former Chief Minister, Stalin said. Whether the Communists or the Congress, they have always accepted and supported the Dravidian movement's policies in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said.
"We reject the 103rd Constitutional Amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to castes that have progressed since it is against the social justice envisioned by the Constitution, against various Apex court verdicts, and for creating caste discrimination among the poor," the all-party meeting resolved on Saturday.
"When a review petition is filed in the Supreme Court in this connection, we request the Tamil Nadu government to also strongly place its opinions to ensure social justice and equality," the resolution read. While the participating parties supported poverty alleviation schemes, "we will not allow the basic values of social justice concept to be shattered."
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy said all those who attended the meeting chaired by the CM, extended support on the issue. DMK allies Congress, the Left parties, MDMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), besides NDA constituent Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) participated in the Stalin-chaired meeting.
He questioned the absence of the AIADMK, pointing out that its stalwarts, the late chief ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, always stood for social justice. The meeting was convened by the state government to discuss the next course of action in the wake of the November 8 SC ruling on EWS quota.
The ruling DMK has already announced it will file a review petition against the November 8 five-judge Supreme Court bench upholding the 10 per cent reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The quota was upheld 3-2 by the bench. (with Agency inputs)
