RSS says its chief didn't advocate end to quotas

The RSS on Monday clarified that its chief Mohan Bhagwat had not called for an end to quotas in education and jobs.

Faced with criticism, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh 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.

"The subject of the interview was integral humanism, not reservation," the statement added.

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

"If we would have implemented this policy as envisaged by the constitution makers instead of doing politics over it, then the present situation would not have arrived," Bhagwat had said.

On Monday, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad dared the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to end education and job quotas.

The BJP also clarified that it was not in favour of reconsidering the reservation policy.

"The BJP is not in favour of any reconsideration of reservation being extended to ST, SC, OBC," union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media here.