New Delhi, Nov 13, 2022: On Saturday, Congress announced that it will undertake a detailed review of party’s position on the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, due to opposition from the southern states.
The main reason for contention is the exclusion of SC/ST/OBC from the 10% EWS reservation.
After the verdict was pronounced by the Supreme Court, the Congress had welcomed the judgment.
However, there was a sharp backlash in Southern states.
As per sources, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had a detailed discussion with the former Finance Minister P Chidambaram with regard to the EWS reservation verdict and the situation developing in the Southern states, especially in Tamil Nadu.
Congress sources stated, “We are undertaking a political review which may have judicial ramifications.”
The Supreme Court, in its 3:2 judgment, had upheld the 103rd Amendment of the Constitution relating to EWS reservation. The amendment had been passed by the Parliament in January 2019.
AICC General Secretary in-charge of communication Jairam Ramesh had said, “Congress party has taken a consistent position from 2014 onwards that Congress supports reservation in education and employment for economically weaker sections in all communities without disturbing the existing reservations for SC/ST/OBCs.”
Congress even made demands for a caste census to be done at the earliest. Jairam Ramesh expressed, “We demand that when the main census takes place in 2023, a caste census should also be conducted by the government.” Former Union Minister Ramesh also added that there is a need for doing the caste data at the earliest because information/database to implement the EWS reservation quota.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram had earlier tweeted, “Today’s SC judgement on the #EWS quota excludes many from accessing the quota on economic grounds. A 3:2 split judgement indicates contrasting viewpoints that need to be addressed. The criteria of EWS is also arbitrary. The judgement doesn’t aid in true economic/social uplift.”
