Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government of attempting to weaken the reservation system in the country. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav alleged that the ruling party at the Centre was against the interests of Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and other weaker sections of society.
BJP's 'Hidden Agenda' Against Reservation
Yadav claimed that the BJP has a 'hidden agenda' to gradually dilute the reservation policy, which was enshrined in the Constitution to uplift the historically marginalized communities. He pointed to recent statements by some BJP leaders and the government's policies as evidence of this alleged design. 'The BJP is continuously trying to weaken the reservation system. They want to finish the rights of Dalits, OBCs, and the poor,' Yadav said.
Attack on Constitutional Rights
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister further stated that the BJP's actions are an attack on the constitutional rights of the backward classes. He cited the government's decision to introduce a bill in Parliament to restore the power of states to make their own OBC lists as a move that could potentially dilute the reservation. 'The Modi government is trying to take away the rights of the states and centralize power, which will harm the backward classes,' he added.
Yadav also referred to the recent controversy over the release of a film that allegedly portrayed a historical figure in a negative light, claiming that the BJP was using such distractions to divert attention from important issues like reservation. 'They are busy in creating a narrative to divide the society on caste and religious lines, while the real issues of unemployment, inflation, and education are being ignored,' he said.
Call for Unity Among Opposition
The SP chief called upon all opposition parties to unite against the BJP's alleged anti-reservation stance. He urged them to come together to protect the interests of the backward classes and ensure that the reservation system remains intact. 'We will not allow the BJP to tamper with the Constitution and the rights of the people. We will fight this battle together,' Yadav asserted.
Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed Yadav's allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Party spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, 'The BJP is committed to the reservation system and has always worked for the welfare of Dalits, OBCs, and the poor. Akhilesh Yadav is making these accusations to hide his own failures and to gain political mileage.'
The reservation system in India provides quotas in education, government jobs, and legislative bodies for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and OBCs. Any perceived threat to this system often becomes a major political issue, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, which has a large population of backward classes.
