The Hindu : National : “Provide quota for poor among upper castes”

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Monday, Nov 19, 2007
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“Provide quota for poor among upper castes”

Mayawati wants Constitution amended

Mayawati

Jammu: The Bahujan Samaj Party on Sunday asked the UPA government at the Centre to amend the Constitution to provide reservation to the poor among the upper castes.

“I have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the need to amend the Constitution to provide reservation to the poor among the upper castes,” BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati told a rally here.

“We are still waiting for his response,” Ms. Mayawati said and added that she also discussed the issue with Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was Prime Minister. She said her party was never against the upper castes and was concerned over the plight of the poor among them.

She said the UPA government had also not responded to her letter demanding reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the private sector. “In U.P., we have already announced 10 per cent reservation in private sector jobs for the SCs and the poor among the upper castes,” she said.

Ms. Mayawati said her party would provide reservation to the poor among the upper castes if it was voted to power at the Centre. — PTI

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