New Delhi, Feb.5: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday countered party General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi’s remarks on caste-based reservation, and said that the Congress is of firm opinion that system of reservations for schedule castes, scheduled tribes and OBC must continue.
In a statement issued by Sonia Gandhi, she said: “Congress is of firm opinion that system of reservations for Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBC must continue. Congress pledged to carve out reservation for the economically weaker sections of all communities without prejudice.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Dwivedi has reportedly said there are certain vested interests in the reservation system, and added that the future leader of the country should be able to break all barriers of caste and religion.
“The reservation should have ended after the first ten years. But it was not. This is because there are vested interests of certain people. No matter how much comfort is given by the government the benefit from the reservation only reaches to top layer. I think this is injustice,” Dwivedi said
“And, I think, the leader of a country should be such who can break all the barriers of caste and religion. He should be able to take an initiative to form fair and equal society,” he added.
He also urged Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to take certain important decisions in the field of reservations.
“Rahul is the leader of the party and the future of the country. Rahul has indulged many people in the process of drafting party manifesto. But I urge him to take a big and strict decision. Reservation should be provided on the basis of the economic condition of the people,” he said.
