Athawale seeks 25 pc quota for upper caste poor

Seeking 25 per cent reservation for upper caste poor, dalit leader and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said the present ceiling of 50 per cent should be raised for this additional quota for which the Constitution might be amended.

“I am in favour of providing 25 per cent reservation for the economically backward sections belonging to upper caste from the 50 per cent left for general people,” the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment told reporters here.

He said the present maximum quota of 50 per cent should be increased to 75 per cent in order to accommodate economically backward classes belonging to various categories including Gujjars, Patels, Rajputs, Marathas, Jats and Brahmins. “In order to increase the quantum of reservation beyond the existing quota for SC, ST and OBCs, the Constitution should be amended to avoid any legal hurdle,” he said.

Noting that Tamil Nadu already provides 69 per cent reservation, Athawale said economically backward people from upper castes should be accommodated in the proposed additional 25 per cent quota. He asserted that the extra quota would not affect SCs, STs and dalits.