Category: National

New Delhi, 7 Jan
The Cabinet on Monday approved 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker in the general category.
The quota for economically backward in general category will be over and above existing 50 per cent reservation, reports said.
The government is likely to bring the constitutional amendment bill on quotas for economically weaker sections in Parliament on Tuesday.
The section doesn’t get reservation as of now, the sources said.
“The reservation will be given to those economically backward poor people who are not availing the benefit of reservation as of now,” a source told PTI.
The reservation benefit is likely to be availed by those whose annual income is below Rs 8 lakh and have up to five acres of land, he said.
Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be amended for implementation of the decision, the sources added.
‘Election Gimmick’, Says Congress
The Congress described the government’s decision as an “election gimmick” and accused the BJP of posturing ahead of the national elections.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the government did not think about this for four years and eight months and brought this just months before the model code of conduct coming into effect.
“Why did you not think of this for four years and eight months? So obviously thought of as election gimmick three months before the model code. You know that you cannot exceed 50 per cent maxima so it is done only to posture that you tried,” he said in a tweet.
Former Union Finance Minister Yahswant Sinha dubbed govt’s decision as “jumla”.
“The proposal to give 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker upper castes is nothing more than a jumla. It is bristling with legal complications and there is no time for getting it passed through both Houses of Parliament. Government stands completely exposed,” tweeted Sinha.