Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot (L) and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday informed Lok Sabha that it was not a party to the case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states are not bound to provide quota in appointments and promotions, after the opposition accused it of failing to defend the reservation system.
Making a statement in Lok Sabha, social justice and empowerment minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said the top court order pertains to a 2012 decision of the previous Congress government in Uttarakhand and asserted that the central government is “committed” and “dedicated” to reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs.
Gehlot made it clear that the Centre was not asked to file an affidavit in the matter and said the issue is being discussed in the government at the “highest level” and it will take “appropriate steps” in the matter.
When the minister said the Supreme Court ruling was on an order issued when the Congress was in power in Uttarakhand, members of the opposition party shouted “shame-shame” and walked out of the House.
The Congress later accused Union social justice minister Thaawarchand Gehlot of misleading Lok Sabha on the issue of reservation and said it would move a privilege motion against him.
The Congress said it would stage protests and agitations at district level on the issue in the coming weeks to “expose” the Modi government’s “conspiracy to end reservation” for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
Congress general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said it is a clear agenda of the BJP to curtail reservation for SCs/STs and backwards and alleged that the RSS has been sabotaging reservation to these oppressed sections for