Bihar RSS supports quota policy for social justice

In what came to be seen by political pundits as a damage-control exercise by the BJP-led NDA following the grand alliance's accusations that the BJP would scrap the job reservation policy, the RSS on Sunday clarified its chief Mohan Bhagwat's stand, saying it is “committed“ to the existing quota policy for the sake of “social justice“ in the country.
The clarification was reportedly prompted by reports that the reservation issue has caught the imagination of people and is benefitting the grand alliance.With RJD chief Lalu Prasad and CM Nitish Kumar telling voters that Bhagwat would see to it that the Narendra Modi government withdrew the quota facility, RSS's Bihar-Jharkhand regional head Mohan Singh issued the clarification, saying, “The RSS considers that constitutional arrangement of the reservation should necessarily continue for social justice and social homogeneity .“

Singh's statement said, “The RSS thinks that the facility of reserva tion should be for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, extremely backward classes and other backward classes in a manner that is suitable for them so that the aim of Constitution makers is fulfilled.“

The clarification came within hours of BJP's Patna Saheb MP Shatrughan Sinha's tweet, supporting Bhagwat's stand on the issue.

“Sri Mohan Bhagwat's views on review of res ervations should be taken seriously . We hold the views of the RSS su premo in high esteem,“ Sinha tweeted, adding fuel to the fire which has already generated much political heat.

Singh also said res Singh also said res ervation policy should not be politicised. “A confused state is being created about the RSS's position on reservation. ideological position on reservation.The RSS condemns such attempts to create confusion,“ he said.

Political observers have earlier said Bhagwat's plea for a review of the reservation policy in an interview impacted voters' behaviour during the first and second phases of polling held in 81 of the 243 assembly constituencies on October 12 and 16.