Amidst demands for reservation in the country, the NDA government has said that these have to be taken “seriously” while striving for a solution to the issue through debate.
“Demand for reservation is rising in many States and agitations are being held for the same. This should be taken seriously and a debate should be held on the issue to reach a solution,” senior BJP leader and Union Minister Kalraj Mishra said.
Clarifying the party’s stance on reservation, he said the BJP believes it is “important” for the development of certain groups. “BJP firmly supports the constitutional reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and extremely backward classes. We believe that reservation is important for the social, education and economic development of these groups.”
On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement regarding the reservation policy that has sparked a row in political circles, Mishra said it was blown out of proportion by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who, he claimed, had “misinterpreted” it.
“Bhagwat’s statement was in reference to Patel reservation demand in Gujarat and it was misinterpreted by Nitish and blown out of proportion for political gains. They are trying to mislead people on the issue for mileage in polls,” said the MSME Minister.
On the Bihar Assembly elections, Mishra said the NDA would get an absolute majority and claimed that even the Opposition alliance of the RJD, JD(U) and the Congress had realised that.
“They are resorting to gimmicks to win over the people, but it will not work. We will get absolute majority and form the government,” he said.