Lucknow, 09 August (H.S.): BSP head Mayawati slammed RSS

chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday for his views on reservation, accusing him of

exhibiting a casteist mindset and warned against any attempt to weaken the

current quota system for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Mayawati was replying to Bhagwat's assertions that

reservation had become politicized, causing hatred in society, and that people

who no longer required its advantages should freely relinquish them. She said

that while such a viewpoint may serve limited political goals, it undermines

the constitutional goal of social fairness. Caste discrimination cannot be

assessed just by economic advancement. Its influence is still felt in many

aspects of the lives of individuals who have been affected, according to

Mayawati in a post on X.

The BSP president was also adamantly opposed to applying the

creamy layer idea to reservations for SCs and STs, claiming that reservations

were tied not just to economic position but also to social transformation,

dignity, and self-esteem. She identified reservation as a critical and

sensitive subject for SC, ST, and OBC populations, particularly those who had

endured discrimination, exploitation, and exclusion for centuries.

She stated that the reservation is primarily about providing

millions of people who have been exploited, mistreated, neglected, and

ostracized for generations with the constitutional and legal right to equality

on humanitarian grounds. Mayawati stated that establishing a creamy layer for

SCs and STs would contradict the Constitution's humanitarian goals, which were

developed under Dr. BR Ambedkar's guidance.

Mayawati stated that past governments at the Center were

aware of the ground realities around caste prejudice and encouraged the current

government to successfully fight in court for maintaining SCs and STs outside

the creamy layer framework. She stated that if the government convincingly

makes its case and persuades the court to keep SC and ST communities outside

the creamy layer, it would be absolutely acceptable and constitutional.

She also said that poor government actions and insufficient

legal counsel have sometimes impeded courts from providing proper justice on

issues related to social transformation.

Mayawati asked the RSS to obey the constitution and cease

supporting changes to the reservation system. It would be preferable if RSS

stopped politicizing reservations and stopped demanding meddling with the

reserve system, she added.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi