Form panel to decide on quota: RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat

KOLKATA: In the wake of the agitation in Haryana over quota, RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Monday suggested that a non-political committee should be formed to decide on the eligibility for reservation.

“Many people are demanding reservation. I feel a committee should be formed to decide who are eligible for reservation. The committee should be apolitical so that there are no vested interests,” Bhagwat told an interactive session of a Chamber of Commerce here.

“Which section of the society should be brought forward, for how long they should be given reservation -a time bound program should be chalked out regarding it. The committee should be given powers for execution,” he said.

Bhagwat said a person not getting opportunity only because of his birth in a particular caste should not happen.

“There should be level playing field for everybody in the society. Everybody should get equal opportunities,” Bhagwat said when asked what would be his solution to the problem of reservation.

“But only because of someone's birth a person does not get the opportunity - this should not be the case. As long as this problem prevails this situation (reservation) will be there,” he said. Bhagwat said after Independence, B R Ambedkar had stressed on economic independence and independence from social discrimination and said as long as the latter existed there would be the issue of reservation.

“As we live in the city, we may not be aware but this problem of social discrimination still exists,” he said.