Guj Cong demands reservation, budget for unreserved classes

The Congress Legislative Party today demanded 20 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the unreserved classes, such as Patidars and Brahmins, in Gujarat.

The demand was put forward by the party's chief whip Amit Chavda while taking part in the discussion on the budgetary allocations for the Social Justice and Empowerment department during the Question Hour today.

He said his party would support any move by the state government to provide 20 per cent reservation to those communities which are currently not getting the benefit of reservation.

He said that the government could conduct a survey to find out who was eligible for such kind of reservations.

"The state government should allocate a separate budget for such unreserved classes, such as Patidars and Brahmins," Chavda added.

Notably, the BJP government had, in 2016, issued an ordinance providing 10 per cent Economically Backward Classes reservation for all the non-reserved classes, including Patidars, but it was quashed by the Gujarat High Court.

The matter is now with the Supreme Court.