Economic base reservation demand against Indian Constitution

Kolhapur, Apr 25 (UNI) Bihar Governor R S Gavai today justified reservation based on social backwardness to the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes, saying that the demand for economic status based reservation is totally against the Constitution.

Talking to reporters at the Shivaji University here, Mr Gavai said reservation to the backward classes was cleared in the Constitution and hence, nobody can change this arrangement.

''The stigma of caste is still a serious problem, though we talk about social democracy and justice,'' he said and pointed out whatever benefits these weaker sections got did not match up to the level of the upper castes.

''I am secular man. I am not interested in criticizing others.

Whatever has to be done in the interest of the nation must be done, putting aside the party, with good political will,'' the Govenor said when he was asked about the reported formation of the Third Front in the nation.

There has not been a single case of a debt-ridden farmer committing suicide in Bihar, he replied to another question.

UNI