Opposition leaders demand caste census, extension of reservation to private sector

New Delhi, 4th April: All India Federation for Social Justice hosted its maiden national conference in New Delhi on Monday to deliberate on various pertinent social justice issues.

The conference brought almost the entire non-BJP leaders and political parties and social movements under one banner and broadly agreed on two important factors.

One, there was consensus on national census of backward communities so that an empirical data could be generated and it could form the basis for the reservation proportionate to the population.

Two, there was loud demand from everyone ranging from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav for the extension of reservation to private sector. Noting that jobs in public sector undertakings have dried up and most such PSUs had been privatised, they demanded reservation in the private sector.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, underscoring the need for meaningful federalism, secularism, social justice, equality and equal opportunity to all, he said his party and the government was totally against reservation based on economic considerations since they were transient and could never be a constant yardstick.

Pointing out the Constitution talked of only social and educational backwardness as yardstick for reservation, Stalin said he was not against any economic package for uplifting poorer sections of people if the government chose to do so. Discriminating poor people and confining the benefits of economically weaker section to only to the forward communities and denying them to poor people in backward and SC communities is not at all acceptable, Stalin said.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren thanked Stalin for having brought together so many voices for social justice on a single platform.

Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar said Caste census has to be done. Our government has begun in Bihar and the results are expected soon. Based on the outcome we will have our quantum of reservation. He also Calls for reservation in private institutions as jobs in public sectors have shrunk.

Farooq Abdulla Member of Parliament, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference said, “Those deprived for years need to be brought out of that poverty and given better life. For that we must unite. Unless we unite and form a central government these goals cannot be achieved. Stalin has done a wonderful work and continued the legacy of Periyar, Anna and his father Karunanidhi. We are behind Stalin, and we must stay united to see that the future is bright and prosperous for everyone. We must get out of the tragedy that is facing India now, and emerge as a shining India.”

Sanjay Singh, MP, Aam Aadmi Party said, “Congratulates DMK and Tamil Nadu Chief minister MK Stalin for having begun a nationally important debate. Caste census has to be done by the union government, and AAP totally supports the proposal, he said and took exception to RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat’s statement in Bihar that the reservation regimen should be ended. He also slammed crony capitalism being practised by the Narendra Modi government.”

Derek o’brien of All India Trinamool Congress reiterated the need for all opposition parties to come together and said it is no time for fence-sitting. He urged Naveen Patnaik of Odisha and YSR Jaganmohan Reddy of YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh to join opposition forces.

Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPM profusely thanked Stalin for this important initiative and called upon the Tamil Nadu chief minister to take it forward, combat corporate-communal nexus and demolish bigotry to achieve the social justice.

Yechuri said Stalin is taking forward the legacy of Periyar, Anna and Karunanidhi. Stalin is taking forward to achieve social justice under four pillars of ideals — Equality, social justice, rationalism and self respect.
Reservation must be accompanied by economic empowerment. But economic empowerment is not possible without economic development, which is confined only to a few now. In the last two years 45.5% of wealth generated has been garnered by a very few.

Corporate and communal nexus should be fought and the atmosphere of bigotry, hatred must be eliminated. Unless it is ended social justice cannot be achieved.

D. Raja, MP, CPI congratulated Stalin for taking the initiative to unite all opposition parties under social justice banner.

Periyar and Ambedkar had a great relationship, he said, adding that when Ambedkar was undermined in London, Periyar wrote a series of articles in Viduthalai supporting Ambedkar.

India is in an all-pervasive crisis on social, economic and political fronts. The Constitution is under attack, he said. “Forces of right reaction and communal fascism are trying impose an illiberal and morbid social political order to perpetuate caste system.

“We all should understand the fundamental challenges we face today. Caste, class and patriarchy are the challenges. Ambedkar said caste is a monster which crosses your path wherever you go. Unless you kill the monster, you cannot achieve social and economic progress. So, we all must work for annihilation of caste, and work for a casteless society.”

Reservation is not a poverty alleviation programme. It was fought and introduced to uplift socially and educationally oppressed communities like OBCs and SCs. But where are public sector undertakings, they are being sold to business and corporate houses.

Time has come to fight for reservation in private sector, he said, adding, “Why not, as public sector is being dismantled.”

Raja said There should be caste census to generate empirical data. Even the social economic survey data hasn’t been made public.

In India we must strive for unity of OBC and SC STs. Any friction among them Is not good for the progress of the nation. We must unite them and fight unitedly for all demands to benefit socially oppressed communities.

“Right wing communal fascist forces think they can take the nation and parties for granted
We need to save the nation and the constitution. CPI shares the concerns of Stalin and the DMK and is ready to work for a better society. This is a historic initiative by Stalin and cpi will stand with him.”

Veerappa Moily, Former Chief Minister, Karnataka said, “We need to liberate OBCs, SC and STs to make them experience the fruits of democracy. Congress party will be totally with you in your efforts.
Congress introduced reservation and gave scholarships to encourage students from oppressed communities, but the present regime in Karnataka is diluting it. OBCs have a big pool of talent, and if they are liberated from the clutches of oppressive forces, they will perform to their full potential. Congress is with this movement to ensure benefit is or social justice is never denied to the deserving.”

Thol Thirumavalavan, MP, VCK said, “Social justice is a concept and it is opposed by Sanadhana Justice. We are here to save social justice for equality. Sanadhana Justice stands for inequality. We have to consolidate all democratic forces across the country to save the nation, the Constitution and social justice from sanadhana forces.”

“The BJP is trying to attack the basic structure of the Constitution so we have to fight the Sanadhana forces to save the Constitution. It’s time to consolidate all anti-BJP forces. It’s a historical day as it has brought together social justice warriors across the country.”

Thirumavalavan then said VCK demanded increase in reservation for OBCs, including minorities.
He said that since most of the public sectors have been dismantled, the reservation should be extended to private sectors. There is not much scope for jobs in public sector. Reservation in private sector is an issue of top priority, he said.

“We also demand caste census to ensure proportionate reservation based on population, “ he said, adding: “We must also fight for women’s reservation, as it will mean completion of social justice.”

Vaiko, MP, MDMK said the All India Federation for Social Justice is carrying the torch of social justice. “Social justice means DMK, and the DMK means social justice. We have to be careful about forces that will try to undo the benefits of social justice. We should march shoulder to shoulder to realise the dreams of our predecessors,” said Stalin.

Manoj Kumar Jha, MP, RJD said DMK is not a mere political party, as it is a product of a social revolution. RJD, which is called DMK of the North, pledges to hand in hand with DMK. Fight for social justice is much more difficult than it ever was because the society has been polarised now. “We must put our act together, and work together on streets, inside parliament and state assemblies. Let us work together for caste survey, because number is everything. There is nothing casteist about it.”

P. Wilson, MP, DMK said, “There are forces that are trying to not only stall the upliftment of the socially backward communities but also reverse the progress made so far. The grant of reservations to socially forward caste communities under the garb of EWS reservations is one such move by the said forces.”

“Thalaivar M.K. Stalin, recognizing that the fight for social justice has to be a united, all India effort, sounded the bugle to establish the All-India Federation for Social Justice last year, on the 74th Republic day as a forum to unite like-minded Leaders, political parties, activists and members of civil society from all across the nation to come together to discuss, and exchange to promote, protect and further the cause of social justice & cooperative federalism. He wrote letters to all leaders of political parties last year informing them about the formation of All India Federation for Social Justice and inviting them to join the federation.”

“Two years ago, the DMK, under the guidance of our Leader Hon’ble M K Stalin, fought in Courts for OBC reservation in medical and dental seats and through the Court we secured 27% reservations for OBCs. As a result, every year 4022 MBBS seats and about 1000 seats in dental courses are available for OBC students throughout India.”

“There is an need to include OBC reservations in promotions as well since social ostracisation continues even after OBCs enter a service. Therefore, there is a need to amend Article 16(4A) to grant reservations in promotion posts as well when there is under representation of backward classes.

“The legacy of great social justice warriors must be passed on to the next generation. In Tamil Nadu, we have our Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin, minister and secretary of the DMK youth wing, actively promoting study circles and focus groups to educate today’s generation about the struggles of Thanthai Periyar and other social justice leaders. The inculcation of social justice values in the next generation is of paramount importance,” Wilson said.

E.T. Mohammed Basheer, MP of IUML, commended Stalin for his dedicated service for the cause of social justice. Calling the formation of All India Federation for Social Justice as a timely move, he said it will bring together all parties under one banner. He said BJP’s political laboratory is working overtime to remove reservation benefiting oppressed sections, and referred to abolition of quote for minorities in Karnataka to support his views. Minorities, especially Muslims, are facing a big threat under the BJP regime, he said.

Chaggan Bhujbal, MLA, Former Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra called for an all-party resolution demanding caste census. 27% quota should be retained uniformly across the country, more so because OBCs constitute 54% of total population.

K.Veeramani, president, Dravidian Kazhagam said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin is a lieutenant of social justice movement. “Tamil Nadu is a land of social justice, land of Periyar and the land responsible for several constitutional amendments to strengthen social justice. It’s time to turn to pan India,” he said.
Veeramani called for rehumanisation of the population dehumanisation caused by caste system that was imported into the country. “Social justice is the only remedy to humanise our people and liberate them from oppression. What we want is not charity. We are at war front after suffering for thousands of years,” he said.

Social justice can’t be won with just words and mere speeches, but by action, he said, adding that social integration is more important than ever and is the need of the hour.

Justice V. Eswaraiah, in his welcome address, said it is wonderful coincidence that the All India Federation For Social Justice is having its first national conference on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, bich falls on March 10 according to the Hindu Tithi. This First of its kind effort should be taken forward, he said, congratulating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for uplifting socially oppressed by uniting everyone. “We demand caste census to determine true and proper representation in judiciary and in administration. Following the footsteps of Bihar government all states must make efforts to conduct a census of socially and educationally backward caste.”

He also commended Tamil Nadu for not following creamy layer concept while giving reservation, and not allowing economically weaker section (EWS) concept into the state. He also demanded reservation in private sector jobs also. EWS quota should be extended to OBCs and SC, STs as well, he said, adding that for a population of 5%, the union government has offered 10% EWS quota.