Athawale moots quota for upper castes

Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale mooted 25% reservation out of the 50.5% quota for sulking upper castes.

Athawale said he has been supporting the Marathas, Gujjars, Pattidars and the likes demanding reservation. "I suggested at the recent NDA meeting that 25% of the unreserved 50.5% should be reserved for such castes to create social harmony," he said. He said that creamy layer should be exempted from enjoying such reservations and that current reservations and proportions should not be affected on account of providing reservations to any new group.

However, he poured cold water on the aspirations of a section of scheduled castes that are demanding categorisation, saying it will be impossible. "We are thinking of helping the backward sections among backwards away from this categorisation," he said.