LJP for reservation for economically backward upper castes: Paswan

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) Lok Janshakti Party leader and union minister Ram Vilas Paswan today defended Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh's proposal to grant 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in government educational institutions and said his party was also for reservation for economically backward upper castes.

Talking to senior UNI journalists at the news agency's headquarters here, Mr Paswan said his party was prepared to work for a Constitutional Amendment which could be brought to give 20 per cent reservation to the economically backward upper castes as well provided this was above the 49 per cent being given to SCs/STs and OBCs.

Mr Paswan said he also favoured reservation for dalit Muslims and dalit Christians by amending the article 341 of the Constitution.

Asked about the meritorious students being made to suffer due to these reservations, Mr Paswan endorsed President A P J Abdul Kalam's suggestion to increase the number of seats in IITs and IIMs to reduce the impact of 27 per cent reservation.

The LJP supremo accuse the BJP of ''double speak'' on the reservation issue and said different leaders of the party have expressed divergent views on it. ''They are now talking of evolving a consensus on the reservation issue while the bill was passed with near unanimity by Parliament. Where were they at that time?'', he asked.

Stating that his party stood for equality of opportunity to all, he said till the time this goal was achieved SCs/STs and OBCs needed to be given reservation.

Finding fault with the education system right from its foundation, Mr Paswa said,'' it enforces disparity as poor students from SCs/STs and OBCs do not get admission in prestigious private schools which gives rise to discontentment''.

''Once the educational system is totally reformed from the primary level to the graduation level with equal standard of education, food, clothing and opportunities provided to all, the reservation need not be continued,'' he noted.

''Once, this equality of opportunity is achieved I will be the first to say that now we do not need reservation,'' he asserted.

Pointing out that rich students could get entry in medical and engineering colleges, Mr Paswan demanded the capitation fee be stopped so that every one could get admission. Stating that he was for the ''creamy layer'' not getting priority in reservation, he said ''I will not want my son to get benefit of the reservation as he does not need it''.

Only the most socially and economically backward should be extended the benefit of reservation and many states have already started creating many grades of SC/STs, he said.

However, he parried a question whether he favoured that children of people who have availed of reservation benefit should not get it.

On the private sector opposing the reservation, Mr Paswan countered how the industrialists who themselves have gained their position as CEOs because of their lineage, can justify opposing SC/STs and OBCs getting reservation on the basis of birth.

Mr Paswan also expressed disappointment over the liberalisation process, saying it had not created enough employment opportunities.

''The government would want more private sector jobs for economically backward people, a majority of whom are from SC/STs'', he said.

Stating that though the implemntation of Mandal Commission recommendations resulted in losing the provision of reservation in promotion, he said we still favoured it aimed at bringing more equality, growth and development of backward people.

''Moreover, presence of about 50 per cent people from reserve categoryb in workforce would work as a deterrent for other employees making snide or caustic comments about thems,'' he observed.

UNI