The Hindu : National : Creamy layer: BJP forms committee

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Friday, Oct 27, 2006
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Creamy layer: BJP forms committee

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A committee headed by the former Human Resource Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, has been set up by the Bharatiya Janata Party to look into the gamut of issues related to reservation for Dalits, including the question of inclusion or exclusion of the "creamy layer" among Dalits from the quota.

The decision was taken at a meeting of party office-bearers here on Thursday. The party took the view that under the United Progressive Alliance Government there had been an attack on reservation for Dalits.

Two specific points were mentioned. One, for the first time the Government has kept the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes out from minority institutions, thus denying them a quota they have been enjoying in these institutions.

Two, the Rangarajan Committee could be used to include in the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe quota the converted Scheduled Castes — that is, those who had converted to Christianity or embraced Islam. This, the BJP argued would mean that the same pie would be shared by a larger group, thus diluting reservation for those who enjoyed them.

The party is also against granting reservation to Muslims and Christians irrespective of their social status.

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