The Hindu : National : BJP meet to discuss creamy layer issue

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Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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National

BJP meet to discuss creamy layer issue

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to formulate its stance on issues thrown up by the Supreme Court judgment against inclusion of the creamy layer in quotas for the Backward Castes, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Party president Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said he would call a meeting of the party's core committee to discuss the issue, which has huge political ramifications, and take a decision.

Senior leaders said that while the party may have no problem agreeing with the court judgment, it may be different as far as the Scheduled Castes and the Tribes are concerned.

A delicate balance would have to be maintained so as to meet the needs of social justice, without sacrificing egalitarianism and merit, they said.

It was indicated that the party would like to see a policy or legislation in place that would do justice to the "most backward" castes and the "most oppressed and depressed" among the Scheduled Castes ands the Tribes.

There is a view — although no firm statistics are available — that the benefits of quotas have gone mostly to certain sections within the larger group of Backward Castes and the Scheduled Castes and the Tribes.

The party will also look afresh at its agitations on Vande Mataram and death sentence for the Parliament case accused Mohammad Afzal Guru.

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