No reconsideration of quota policy: BJP

The BJP on Monday said it does not favour a reconsideration of the reservation policy, as even during the Jana Sangh days the idea of constitutional reservation was being firmly supported.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the offshoot of erstwhile Jan Sangh (1951-1977), a political arm of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

"The BJP firmly believes that reservation is important for the social, education and economic development of the SC, ST, OBC, Backwards and Extremely Backwards classes. The BJP is not in favour of any reconsideration of these constitutional provisions," the party said here in a statement.

The statement came in the wake of the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported remarks that there should be a review of the reservation policy.

"Right from the day of its inception and even before the Jana Sangh days, the BJP very firmly supported the constitutional reservation," the statement added.

However, the BJP also made it apparent that it was further of the view that if further measures were suggested for those who are economically and socially backwards, the same is a welcome.

Bhagwat on Sunday pitched for a review of the reservation policy, contending it had been used for political ends and suggested setting up an apolitical committee to examine who needs the facility and till when.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also clarified that the party was not in favour of reconsidering the reservation policy.

He, however, said there should be a debate how to extend the benefit of the reservation to those poor and backwards who have been left out.

Meanwhile, the BJP's ideological mentor RSS also on Monday clarified that Mohan Bhagwat had not called for an end to quotas in education and jobs.

It sought to suggest that Bhagwat's remarks in an interview were misunderstood.

"Bhagwat ji has not commented on the reservation, which different weaker sections of the society are enjoying," RSS chief spokesman Manmohan Vaidya said in a statement.

"Instead, he had said that everybody should discuss (the issue so) that benefits of reservation should reach all weaker sections of the society as envisaged by the constitution makers.