IJP slams political parties on reservation issue

Lucknow, Apr 24: Indian Justice Party today slammed major political parties and dalit leaders for paying 'lip service' on the issues of dalit and OBC reservations.

Talking to reporters here, IJP President and former bureaucrat Udit Raj alleged political parties, including Congress, BJP, BSP and SP were not doing much on the issue.

Asserting the BJP, after initially supporting 104 constitutional amendment, raised up the issue of merit to nullify the amendment, 'the UPA government at the Centre too has been similarly dilly dallying on reservation to dalits in the private sector.' However, a committee of Ministers was constituted, which submitted its report without recommending reservation to Dalits in the private sector, he added.

Mr Raj claimed Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan attended only one of the five meetings held on the issue between November 3, 2004 and January 24, 2006, 'but did nothing'.

''Similarly, BSP President Mayawati is also playing a dubious role by not asking for direct reservation for Dalits in private sector. Instead, she is talking of reservation to poor amongst high castes...Of course, we also support this, but the priority should be dalits,'' he said.

The IJP leader also slammed UP Chief Minister and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for paying only lip service to the cause of reservation to OBCs.

UNI