Rameshwar Oraon asks Sonia Gandhi to restrain Jitin Prasada, Manish Tewari

NEW DELHI: The debate in Congress on job and education reservations intensified after former Union minister, Rameshwar Oraon, who is the Chairperson of the National Commission for STs, registered his protest against party colleagues Jitin Prasada and Manish Tewari for demanding a review of the prevailing laws.

In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Oraon said that Prasada's and Tewari's remarks could create unnecessary confusion among the people about the Congress' commitment for reservation for STs, SCs and OBCs. He also urged her to step in to ensure that the duo do not continue making these remarks.

When contacted by ET on Tuesday, Oran acknowledged having written to Gandhi on the issue on Monday. "Yes, I have a written a letter to Soniaji in my personal capacity and as a Congressman. In my letter to the Congress president, I have pointed out how statements made by Prasada and Tewari went against the stated Congress position...," Oraon said.

"I have told the Congress president that such statements, especially when RSS chief too is demanding a re-look at the reservation policy, could create unnecessary confusion among the people about Congress' support to the reservation policy. When I was in some tribal areas of Maharashtra the other day, many Congress people, especially tribals, asked me about Prasada's and Tewari's remarks and whether the Congress was changing it stand."