Raj Governor airs views against reservation

Jaipur, Jun 22 (UNI) On heels of Rajasthan Government's decision to accord special reservation quota to Gujjars and poor people in higher caste, Governor Shilendra Kumar Singh has voiced his opposition against the reservation system in the country.

Mr Singh chose the opportunity to make references virtually against the just-ended fierce Gujjat stir for ST status at a function which was addressed by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil here late last evening.

Hitting at the hardening of casteism and its fallouts, the Governor said people of some castes were demanding reservation for themselves while the people from other caste were opposing and ridiculing their demands.

He said casteism was a big blot on our society and it was leading to hatred and separatism in certain cases.

Terming the demands of reservation as futile and inappropriate the Governor said this could not offer any solution as reservation could not make people progress.

Addressing specifically to people of ST and SC, Mr Singh counselled them not to depend upon reservation but upon their own hard work, dedication and self confidence.

He said ''instead of agitating for reservation, ensure good education to your children, sharpen their capabilities and trust their talent and efforts for achieving goals.'' He said blacks who were victims of various social evils, including slavery in United States way back in 1863, were having no reservation but they had made efforts and achieved success in all walks of life on their own. Now one of the black Americans was in the race for the Presidency, he added.

''You do not need reservation, you need social awareness and honest efforts for success,'' the Governor concluded.

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