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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bihar elections: Congress ramps up reservation pitch ahead of PM Modi's visit; alleges NDA has ‘given up' on 65% quota push
File photo: Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh (Picture credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Bihar to launch key development projects ahead of assembly elections, the Congress on Friday sharpened its attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, alleging that it has 'all but given up' on the proposed 65 per cent reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs. The policy, rooted in findings from the caste survey conducted under the erstwhile INDIA-bloc, is currently under judicial review. Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, proposed a three-pronged legislative approach to safeguard the reservation framework. 'The double-engine Govt in Bihar has all but given up,' Ramesh claimed. 'But there are three ways out that the INC has been demanding for long that will make the 65 per cent reservations a reality,' he added. Ramesh outlined the party's proposals. First, making the Bihar reservation law part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, as was done in 1994 by the Narasimha Rao government to protect Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent quota. Second, he called for a constitutional amendment to bypass the Supreme Court-imposed 50 per cent ceiling on reservations. Third, he pushed for the implementation of Article 15(5), which allows for reservation in private educational institutions, a provision upheld by the apex court but left unimplemented for over a decade. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Confidence packed. Wrinkles left behind. Philips Garment Steamers Book Now Undo 'This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional amendment introduced by Dr Manmohan Singh's government in 2006,' Ramesh pointed out. He further said the Congress would 'most definitely' raise these 'issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment' during the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 21. The remarks come as PM Modi is in Siwan, Bihar, where he is set to inaugurate multiple infrastructure projects, including the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line worth over Rs 400 crore and a new train service. His visit also includes stops in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with a mass yoga event scheduled in Bhubaneswar to mark International Yoga Day. The Congress has increasingly tied its reservation pitch to the broader caste-based census framework, demanding immediate legislative action. The move signals the party's intent to double down on social justice narratives ahead of the state polls due in October. Congress leaders have also linked their call for implementing Article 15(5) to the broader agenda of extending affirmative action into the private sector for marginalised communities.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Minorities' housing schemes quota to go from 10% to 15%
The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to enhance the reservation for minorities under various housing schemes in the state from 10% to 15%, drawing criticism from the opposition BJP, which called the move 'unconstitutional'. According to ministers, the move aligned with both the demographic realities and existing central guidelines. According to the government, this enhanced quota will benefit all minorities, including Muslims, Christians, and Jains. The change will apply to all government housing initiatives implemented across the state, and according to housing minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, it comes after long-standing demands from minority groups who have struggled to access affordable housing. The decision, however, has led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to accuse the Congress-led government of pushing a religion-based agenda in violation of constitutional principles. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar defended the revision, highlighting that many housing units remain unoccupied in towns and cities, and that the new allocation could address both vacancy and need. 'In Mandya, there are 7 to 9 towers where no one has moved in. At least minorities are willing to occupy those buildings,' he said. 'In urban areas, a lot of minorities are present. We couldn't allocate [homes] to others, and that's why they requested 10–15%.' He pointed to similar patterns in Bengaluru, where homes built under public schemes have not been fully utilised. 'We've constructed houses, but no one has occupied them,' he said, adding that the increase was a long-pending demand. 'In the past seven years, they proposed this, and we agreed.' Law minister HK Patil called the change a reflection of the government's 'housing for all' vision. 'Many houseless individuals come from downtrodden and minority backgrounds. This move ensures that homes reach those in genuine need,' he said, clarifying that the quota does not exclude other communities. 'The government is firm that all eligible, houseless individuals should be accommodated.' The BJP has condemned the decision as constitutionally untenable. Union minister Pralhad Joshi claimed it flouted Supreme Court orders that bar religion-based reservations. 'This is a clear case of appeasement. The Congress government has increased what was on paper 4 to 15% in practice,' he said. 'It is a direct attack on the rights of SCs, STs, and OBCs, who will now lose out on benefits rightfully theirs.' Joshi warned of potential legal action, stating the party would review options in consultation with legal experts. BJP MLC CT Ravi also criticised the policy, invoking the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar. 'Ambedkar never supported religion-based reservation. Now Congress is extending it to housing too,' he said. The move follows another contentious policy from the Siddaramaiah government earlier this year — an attempt to reserve 4% of government contracts under ₹2 crore for Muslims.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Will you now enter bedrooms?': Row over private photos escalates in Punjab, AAP minister Ravjot Singh files police plaint against SAD leader Bikram Majithia
JALANDHAR: Punjab local bodies minister Ravjot Singh announced on Wednesday that a formal police complaint has been lodged against senior (SAD) leader for posting his "edited" personal photographs on social media accounts seeking to "scandalise and defame him". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Calling Majithia "an irrelevant leader from an irrelevant party raising an irrelevant issue," the minister, addressing a press conference, sought to give the issue a casteist angle, saying that Majithia was targeting Scheduled Caste (SC) leaders of the AAP. He mentioned minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and former minister Balkar Singh, whose "sleazy videos" were earlier released by Majithia. All three hail from the SC community. He claimed that Majithia had a history of oppressing SCs and Dalits during his tenure in power, while the AAP govt was a supporter of the two communities. He said that Majithia circulated these photographs when AAP was set to win the Ludhiana West byelection. "The photograph shared on social media is a disgraceful and unethical attempt to mislead the public and defame me. This woman is someone's daughter, mother, or sister. This act is not just an attack on me but an insult to all women. Such tactics reflect the low level of politics practised by such leaders," said Ravjot, flanked by AAP state general secretary Deepak Bali and local AAP leader Tarandeep Sunny. He said that the photographs in question were eight to 10 years old and feature his ex-wife. He reiterated claims that the pictures were "edited". He said that releasing such photographs amounted to insulting women and his former wife was suffering ignominy without any fault of hers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He said he was leaving the matter in the court of God and the people. Wrong to bring casteism angle: Channi Jalandhar MP and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has sought to debunk attempts by local bodies minister Ravjot Singh and AAP to introduce a caste angle into the recent controversy surrounding alleged "sleazy photographs". In a statement posted on his X handle, Channi said, "One after the other obscene videos of ministers coming out are a grave disrespect to women. It is wrong to link this issue with casteism in any way. It would be better if the entire AAP party apologises and resigns." 'Pics morphed': Another minister slams Majithia Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and minister for minister for good governance and information technology Aman Arora on Wednesday slammed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for putting out "private" and "morphed" pictures of his cabinet colleague Ravjot Singh in the public domain. "I never anticipated that someone could take politics to such a low level. This is not right," Arora said while responding to a question on the issue during a press conference here. When asked if the row had dented the party's image, Arora said: "Dr Ravjot Singh has already clarified that these were his private photos with his ex-wife, which were being posted on social media after AI morphing. How will this dent the party's image?" Rather, Arora added: "This raises a question mark on the character of the person who is posting these photos. Will they resort to such a low level of politics?" "Why does Majithia get such photos or news just two days ahead of the elections," he asked. "I mean, it is a very sorry state of affairs. Only a handful, two or four leaders of Punjab, one can count on fingers, resort to such a low level of politics." Arora further asked: "Will they even enter the bedrooms of people? It is ridiculous. What these people are doing is total nonsense."
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tejashwi Yadav writes: Why we need 85 per cent reservation and its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule
As readers may be aware, I recently reached out to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the context of the conversations around the caste census. The CM's silence on my demand for including the enhanced state reservation quotas in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution has once again exposed the NDA's so-called double-engine government's hypocrisy on social justice issues. That they have nothing to say clearly reveals their deeply ideological and hostile attitude towards the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalised. The NDA's reluctance to conduct a nationwide caste census in the spirit demanded by Opposition parties like us is rooted in a combination of political, ideological, and electoral calculations. The BJP has long practised polarisation politics through homogenising religious identity. Their aim has been to subsume caste distinctions under a broader religious framework and continue to reproduce the hierarchical varna structures in politics and governance. They are afraid that a comprehensive caste census would throw up hard data on caste-based disparities, reinforcing the relevance of caste in public policy, which goes against the BJP's preferred narrative of a fictional development. The BJP's core leadership and significant vote base, especially in the Hindi heartland, draws heavily from upper castes. A caste census will highlight the marginalisation of OBCs, SCs, and STs in representation and access to power. The BJP fears that a caste census would likely lead to a demand for increased reservations based on population share. This fear drives their resistance to our legitimate demands for social justice. Detailed caste data would provide historically oppressed and marginalised groups a powerful electoral and policy weapon to demand reservation realignment and targeted welfare interventions. The implementation of enhanced reservation quotas based on the findings of a scientific caste census shall be a political decision and a socio-economic imperative rooted in the constitutional ideals of equality and justice. Opposition parties like ours have been pushing for the caste census because it strengthens the commitments made in the Constitution. A caste census provides the empirical foundation to reconfigure reservations in a way that reflects the actual social and economic realities on the ground, thereby fulfilling the constitutional promise of equality and social justice. This is exactly why I am demanding concrete action in Bihar through fresh laws to raise reservations to 85 per cent. We need the Centre's support through the Ninth Schedule because we understand that without constitutional protection, these progressive measures can be challenged and diluted. The artificial and unscientific 50 per cent ceiling imposed by the judiciary – neither representative of the will of the people nor representative of the composition of the society, much less demographic data – needs to be challenged. Nobody can deny that caste census data is essential to rectify the highly skewed development map of India in terms of certain groups acquiring a larger share. By aligning reservation policies with contemporary demographic and socio-economic realities, the state can address the systemic exclusion that persists in education, employment, and political participation. A caste census would provide empirical clarity on the actual representation and deprivation levels of various sub-groups within the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. An enhanced quota of reservation, guided by the findings of a caste census, would serve as a vital corrective measure to address the historical under-representation of marginalised communities in education, employment, and governance, besides making the private sector reflect the diversity in their employment policy. In essence, reservation without accurate data risks perpetuating inequality; with a caste census, it can evolve into a precise tool for justice and empowerment. What perturbs me is that the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remained non-committal on this issue for a very long time. I have seen this duplicity firsthand in Bihar politics. The BJP talks about supporting backward classes during elections, but when it comes to concrete action like supporting our 85 per cent reservation demand or pushing for Ninth Schedule inclusion, they maintain a studied silence. There were attempts to thwart it by proxy organisations in the corridors of the judiciary. This dual strategy was employed to help the BJP balance regional pressures while keeping the national position cautious and aligned with broader ideological goals it has inherited from the RSS. This exposes their real priorities and allegiances. If the BJP and their partners in the NDA, especially those from Bihar, cannot do this much after ruling the state for nearly 20 years, one cannot expect anything from them after the recently announced half-hearted national caste census. The BJP's overall reluctance stems neither from administrative challenges nor logistical challenges, but from political apprehensions: A caste census could upend the carefully crafted social coalition it relies on, revive the unmet concerns of social justice, and challenge its ideological framing of Indian society. As we all know, a full-fledged, transparent caste census could produce uncomfortable truths for the BJP, which it cannot spin or suppress. The data would reveal the actual numbers of different caste groups and subgroups and their representation in various sectors, making it impossible for the BJP to continue with their rhetoric while denying real empowerment. My demands in Bihar for enhanced reservations and special legislative sessions are part of this larger battle for transparency and justice. When I ask the CM to convene a special assembly session, I am demanding that we move beyond empty promises to concrete legislative action that can withstand judicial scrutiny through constitutional protection. The time has come for all political parties to decide whether they stand with the constitutional promise of equality or with the forces that want to preserve historical privileges. A comprehensive caste census is the first step towards building a truly representative democracy where policy is based on facts, where resources are allocated justly, and every citizen gets their rightful place in the nation's progress. Until we get this census, our fight for social justice will continue through legislative assemblies, Parliament, and every democratic forum available to us. The truth cannot be suppressed forever, and the people of India deserve leaders who will fight for their rights with data, determination, and unwavering commitment to constitutional values. The writer is the Leader of the Opposition Bihar Legislative Assembly
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Police complaint lodged against Majithia, says minister Ravjot
Jalandhar: Punjab local bodies minister Ravjot Singh announced on Wednesday that a formal police complaint has been lodged against senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for posting his "edited" personal photographs on social media accounts seeking to "scandalise and defame him". Calling Majithia "an irrelevant leader from an irrelevant party raising an irrelevant issue," the minister, addressing a press conference, sought to give the issue a casteist angle, saying that Majithia was targeting Scheduled Caste (SC) leaders of the AAP. He mentioned minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and former minister Balkar Singh, whose "sleazy videos" were earlier released by Majithia. All three hail from the SC community. He claimed that Majithia had a history of oppressing SCs and Dalits during his tenure in power, while the AAP govt was a supporter of the two communities. He said that Majithia circulated these photographs when AAP was set to win the Ludhiana West byelection. "The photograph shared on social media is a disgraceful and unethical attempt to mislead the public and defame me. This woman is someone's daughter, mother, or sister. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This act is not just an attack on me but an insult to all women. Such tactics reflect the low level of politics practised by such leaders," said Ravjot, flanked by AAP state general secretary Deepak Bali and local AAP leader Tarandeep Sunny. He said that the photographs in question were eight to 10 years old and feature his ex-wife. He reiterated claims that the pictures were "edited". He said that releasing such photographs amounted to insulting women and his former wife was suffering ignominy without any fault of hers. He said he was leaving the matter in the court of God and the people. Wrong to bring casteism angle: Channi Jalandhar MP and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has sought to debunk attempts by local bodies minister Ravjot Singh and AAP to introduce a caste angle into the recent controversy surrounding alleged "sleazy photographs". In a statement posted on his X handle, Channi said, "One after the other obscene videos of Aam Aadmi Party ministers coming out are a grave disrespect to women. It is wrong to link this issue with casteism in any way. It would be better if the entire AAP party apologises and resigns." 'Pics morphed': Another minister slams Majithia Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and minister for minister for good governance and information technology Aman Arora on Wednesday slammed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for putting out "private" and "morphed" pictures of his cabinet colleague Ravjot Singh in the public domain. "I never anticipated that someone could take politics to such a low level. This is not right," Arora said while responding to a question on the issue during a press conference here. When asked if the row had dented the party's image, Arora said: "Dr Ravjot Singh has already clarified that these were his private photos with his ex-wife, which were being posted on social media after AI morphing. How will this dent the party's image?" Rather, Arora added: "This raises a question mark on the character of the person who is posting these photos. Will they resort to such a low level of politics?" "Why does Majithia get such photos or news just two days ahead of the elections," he asked. "I mean, it is a very sorry state of affairs. Only a handful, two or four leaders of Punjab, one can count on fingers, resort to such a low level of politics." Arora further asked: "Will they even enter the bedrooms of people? It is ridiculous. What these people are doing is total nonsense." MSID:: 121934096 413 |
