Mayawati announces formation of four new castes
After announcing that four new states would be carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has announced the formation of four new castes to be formed out of existing castes. These castes — the names would be announced later in a rally — will get the benefits of reservations in government jobs and educational institutes.
Mayawati is hoping to win the next assembly elections through this scheme, which has been called undemocratic and unconstitutional by opposition parties.
"If we come back to power, we will constitute four new castes for better development of the people of Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati read out from a written statement. "People can apply for membership of these castes, and if selected, they will be declared underprivileged, following which they will be eligible for reservations."
The names of the new castes and the process of selection of candidates to be included in the new castes have not been announced yet, which has given rise to many rumours.
"I think they are going to auction memberships like cricketers are auctioned in the Indian Premier League," Prof Santosh Sahay, sociology professor, Lucknow University, claimed. "This will make sure that money is generated for the party — a pattern that the BSP follows in every decision-making process."
Asked how those who take part in a competitive bidding process and 'buy' memberships be later declared as 'underprivileged' and needing government support, Sahay cited the example of Dr Vijay Mallya.
"Even he took part in the IPL auctions and bought many players, but did that stop him from seeking government help and support?" the professor argued.
"Recently even the ceiling for being categorised as belonging to the creamy layer in the OBC category was also changed and those earning Rs100,000 per month were deemed eligible for reservations. So I think Mayawati can defend her decision to auction the caste memberships," he added.
Currently, the Constitution of India doesn't allow a person to change one's caste, which means the Centre would have to bring about a constitutional amendment to execute Mayawati's plan.
"I have already written to the prime minister to this effect," said Mayawati, putting the onus on the Centre.
As expected, opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh have reacted sharply, with the Samajwadi Party accusing Mayawati of conspiring to weaken the OBCs by converting them to new castes. The Congress, too, opposed the move, with Rahul Gandhi terming those who seek to change their castes as 'beggars', while BJP has favoured merger of all castes into one large 'Hindu' caste.
Political experts believe that Mayawati's latest decision is aimed at winning next year's assembly elections.
"Instead of reaching out to already existing vote banks, she is trying to create a new vote bank," a political expert concluded after three hours of analysis.
After announcing that four new states would be carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has announced the formation of four new castes to be formed out of existing castes. These castes — the names would be announced later in a rally — will get the benefits of reservations in government jobs and educational institutes.
Mayawati is hoping to win the next assembly elections through this scheme, which has been called undemocratic and unconstitutional by opposition parties.
"If we come back to power, we will constitute four new castes for better development of the people of Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati read out from a written statement. "People can apply for membership of these castes, and if selected, they will be declared underprivileged, following which they will be eligible for reservations."
The names of the new castes and the process of selection of candidates to be included in the new castes have not been announced yet, which has given rise to many rumours.
"I think they are going to auction memberships like cricketers are auctioned in the Indian Premier League," Prof Santosh Sahay, sociology professor, Lucknow University, claimed. "This will make sure that money is generated for the party — a pattern that the BSP follows in every decision-making process."
Asked how those who take part in a competitive bidding process and 'buy' memberships be later declared as 'underprivileged' and needing government support, Sahay cited the example of Dr Vijay Mallya.
"Even he took part in the IPL auctions and bought many players, but did that stop him from seeking government help and support?" the professor argued.
"Recently even the ceiling for being categorised as belonging to the creamy layer in the OBC category was also changed and those earning Rs100,000 per month were deemed eligible for reservations. So I think Mayawati can defend her decision to auction the caste memberships," he added.
Currently, the Constitution of India doesn't allow a person to change one's caste, which means the Centre would have to bring about a constitutional amendment to execute Mayawati's plan.
"I have already written to the prime minister to this effect," said Mayawati, putting the onus on the Centre.
As expected, opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh have reacted sharply, with the Samajwadi Party accusing Mayawati of conspiring to weaken the OBCs by converting them to new castes. The Congress, too, opposed the move, with Rahul Gandhi terming those who seek to change their castes as 'beggars', while BJP has favoured merger of all castes into one large 'Hindu' caste.
Political experts believe that Mayawati's latest decision is aimed at winning next year's assembly elections.
"Instead of reaching out to already existing vote banks, she is trying to create a new vote bank," a political expert concluded after three hours of analysis.
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