Manmohan Vaidya back-tracks post furore, says RSS 'in favour' of reservation

After raising a storm post his statement quoting B.R. Ambedkar against continuation of reservation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue Manmohan Vaidya on Friday retracted his earlier comment saying that the organisation has always been in favour of reservation, adding that as long as differences in the society remain, such policies will exist as well.

"The RSS has clarified time and again that it has always been in support of reservation, as we believe that reservation was imposed in response to the discrimination being faced by certain sections of the society," Vaidya told ANI.

He further emphasised that reservation is a must, however, adding that it should not be based on the lines of religion.

"The second question was on giving reservation on the basis of religion, to that I responded that reservation on the basis of religion has not been a part of our history and if we do so, then this will only promote separatist ideology. So I suggested that instead of opting for reservation on the basis of religion we can give them better education. The Supreme Court and the high Court also have several times rejected the idea of reservation on the basis of religion," he added.

Earlier today during an interactive session in the Jaipur Literature Festival he said that reservations for the SC and ST were introduced in a different context and it was provided in the Constitution to remedy the 'historical injustice' done to them.

"It was our responsibility. So, reservation for them has been there since the inception (of the Constitution). But, even Ambedkar has said its continuance in perpetuity is not good. There should be a time limit to it," he added.

Vaidya's remark comes as an embarrassment for the BJP as it comes days ahead of the assembly polls in five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab and Goa.

The opposition parties trained guns at the BJP and RSS post Vaidya's remark.

Congress leader Raj Babbar told ANI that said that the RSS is least concerned about the downtrodden and underprivileged sections of the society.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also lashed out at Vaidya while accusing the BJP and RSS of being anti-Dalits.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Vaidya's remark, while asserting that the BJP would face electoral defeat in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh after witnessing the same fate in Bihar.