Reservation

Telangana to discuss 42% BC reservation issue in October 23 Cabinet meeting

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday said the state government is sincere and committed to ensuring 42 per cent reservation for Backward Classes, and the issue will be discussed in the October 23 Cabinet meeting, after getting Supreme Court's judgment copy. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Telangana government's petition challenging a high court's decision that stayed a government order providing 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes in local bodies. "The Congress Party and Government have a sincere and committed intention to ensure 42 per cent reservations for BCs. Once the Supreme Court's judgment copy is received, the issue will be discussed, and a decision will be taken in the Cabinet meeting on October 23," Vikramarka said in a press release. He alleged that the previous BRS government, during the 2018 local body elections, had imposed a 50 per cent cap on total reservations through legislation, which was later repealed by the ...

Jarange meets delegation, demands Marathwada's Marathas be declared Kunbis

Activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday told a delegation led by retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde that the government must declare all Marathas of Marathwada as Kunbis and be given reservation. The delegation met Jarange at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai this afternoon. He has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Friday seeking quota in government jobs and education for the Maratha community. Jarange said the committee under retired judge Shinde had studied gazettes related to the issue for the past 13 months and now it was time for the panel to submit its report to pave the way for Marathas to get Kunbi status. Jarange has been seeking a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. He has demanded that Marathas be recognised as Kunbis an agrarian caste included in the OBC category which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education. "Marathas in Marathwada must be declared as Kunbis and given reservation. The Hydera

Maratha quota stir: Govt panel to hold talks with Jarange, says minister

Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Saturday said that a government delegation has been deputed to hold talks with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who is staging an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan. Talking to reporters after a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee, the state water resources minister said issues raised by Jarange were discussed in detail and the government is committed to resolving them positively. Jarange has been seeking a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. He has demanded that Marathas be recognised as Kunbis an agrarian caste included in the OBC category which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education. Vikhe Patil said that the delegation headed by Justice Sandeep Shinde (retired) will hold talks with Jarange. Justice Shinde heads the high-level committee constituted to scrutinise Kunbi records of the Maratha community. The minister further said, "We have discu

Bharat bandh, Bihar reservation, Madhabi Puri Buch on Jane Street, Trump tariffs & more

Over 25 crore workers from sectors like banking, insurance, and others are expected to join a nationwide strike tomorrow, on 9th July.

Modi govt committed to providing 33% reservation to women: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the Modi government was committed to providing 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, and it has taken a decision to that effect. Describing the 11 years of the Modi government as "very important" in the country's history, he said what failed to happen in the 60 years prior to that was achieved by the present dispensation cutting across sectors. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur on the completion of 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, he expressed confidence that the country's logistics cost will come down to 9 per cent by the end of this year, which will boost exports and help businesses and industries to grow. When asked about the issue of women's quota, Gadkari said, "It is our commitment to provide 33 per cent reservation to women and we have also taken a decision to that effect." In September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the women's reservation bill -

'Not found suitable' new Manuvaad, will fight anti-reservation moves: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that eligible candidates from SC, ST, and OBC communities were being deliberately declared 'not found suitable' to keep them away from education and leadership. Gandhi made the remark in a post on X, sharing a video of his recent interaction with students of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU)." "'Not Found Suitable' is the new Manuvaad now. Eligible candidates from SC/ST/OBC are being deliberately declared 'unsuitable' so that they are kept away from education and leadership," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in his post in Hindi. 'Manuvaad' is the ethos of a society governed by Manusmriti. Gandhi quoted B R Ambedkar to hail education as the biggest weapon for equality, and accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government and the RSS of subverting this power. "... the Modi government is busy blunting that weapon," he said. Gandhi said that more than 60 per cent of the reserved posts of Professor and more than 30

Rahul vows to 'break the wall of 50% reservation'; slams PM over US tariffs

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Waqf (Amendment) Act is anti-Constitution and an attack on the freedom of religion, as he warned that the BJP-RSS will soon go after the rights of other minorities such as Christians and Sikhs. Addressing the AICC session on the banks of the Sabarmati river, Gandhi also said that an economic storm is approaching and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of succumbing to pressure from US President Donald Trump on the imposition of tariffs. Did you see the photograph of PM Modi hugging Trump? This time he ordered Modi ji that we will not hug but will impose new tariffs'. PM Modi did not say a word. To divert attention from this they ran a drama in Parliament for two days, he said, adding, Where is the PM hiding? Referring to PM Modi's recent meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, Gandhi said the Bangladeshi leader "gives adverse remarks and he is sitting with him". Where is the 56-inch chest, Gandhi asked in a swipe a

Modi govt should approve bills enhancing BC quota in Telangana: CM Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday demanded that the Modi government approve state bills aimed at increasing reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment and local bodies to 42 per cent. Addressing a protest organised by National BC Welfare Associations at Jantar Mantar, Reddy said the state government made several representations to the central government for early approval of the bills, but there has been no response. "Many representations were made to the Centre, but there was no response. Therefore, we are here to protest," he said. The state Legislative Assembly on March 17 passed two bills to increase BC reservation from from 23 per cent to 42 per cent in educational institutions, employment and elections to rural and urban local bodies. The bills require centre's approval as the proposed BC reservation would exceed the 50 per cent cap on quotas. "We have sent the reservation bill to the Centre. We are asking (Prime Minister Narendra) Mo

Grant 0.5% interim reservation to transgenders, Karnataka HC tells NLSIU

The Karnataka High Court has directed the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) to provide 0.5 per cent interim quota to the transgenders in admissions and fees waiver till the varsity formulates a policy on reservation for such applicants. The bench headed by Justice Ravi V Hosmani also asked NLSIU to approach the Centre and the state government for appropriate grants to cover the financial aid. The court took note of the one per cent reservation provided for transgenders in employment by state government to prescribe 0.5 per cent quota for the community. The court direction was based on a petition filed by Mugil Anbu Vasantha.

Census to begin in 2025? Know latest updates here

According to various reports, India's census may begin in 2025. Originally scheduled for 2021, the census could not happen because of the covid-19 pandemic. Watch the video to know the latest updates.

Jarange ends fast over Marathas reservation citing community's 'sentiments'

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday called off his indefinite fast, nine days after its launch for the OBC quota demand, citing pleas from members of the Maratha community to withdraw his hunger strike. Speaking to his supporters in Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, Jarange said he had decided to call off the fast keeping in mind the sentiments of the Maratha community. We will deal with those who have hurt the Maratha community, Jarange said. Jarange sat on a hunger strike on September 17, his sixth in a year, to demand reservation to the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. "I have decided to call off the fast after repeated pleas from my community members. Those responsible for harassing the Maratha community will not be spared," Jarange said and appealed to Marathas to refrain from attending any political meetings. Jarange said the Maratha community suffered a lot in the last 70 years. "We want the reservation for a better future

Three generations of Nehru-Gandhi family opposed reservation: Bawankule

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday accused leaders from "three generations" of the Nehru-Gandhi family, including former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi, of opposing reservation. He also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should refrain from giving "anti-India statements", and asked him to clarify his stand on the issue of reservation. Addressing a press conference here, Bawankule said he does not support the statements made by his party's Rajya Sabha member Anil Bonde and Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad against Rahul Gandhi. Gaikwad kicked up a row by announcing a Rs 11 lakh reward to anyone chopping off Rahul Gandhi's tongue for his remarks on scrapping the reservation system, while Bonde said the Congress leader's tongue should be singed. Speaking about these remarks, Bawankule said, "I do not support the statements made by Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad and BJP's Rajya Sabha member Anil Bonde. They should refrain from making such ...

Rahul Gandhi's prejudice against reservation out in open: BJP leader

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is against reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, and his prejudice against the provision came out in the open during his interaction with students of Georgetown University in the US, the BJP said on Tuesday. The BJP's accusation came after Gandhi told the students at the prestigious university that the Congress would think of scrapping reservations when "India is a fair place", which he said is not the case right now. Latching on to the Congress leader's remark, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Rahul Gandhi, who pleads and claims to be saving the Constitution, has said in America that he (his party) will scrap reservation when the conditions so warrant a fairness." "With this, the prejudice against reservation which Rahul Gandhi has in abundance got reflected in America," the former Union minister said, and alleged that the Congress leader's campaign to save the Constitution and save reservation is

Congress conspiring for years to 'end reservation', claims Mayawati

Latching on to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the issue of reservation, BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday claimed that the Congress is conspiring to end reservation and asked people belonging to the deprived sections to be cautious in the wake of his "dangerous" statement. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was reacting to Gandhi's remarks that Congress will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place, which is not the case right now. The BSP chief said the Congress never implemented OBC reservation nor conducted caste census when it was in power. "Now it is dreaming of coming to power under its cover (of doing caste census). Beware of this drama of theirs (Congress), which will never be able to conduct caste census in the future," she said on X. "Now also beware of this drama of the supreme leader of the Congress party, Shri Rahul Gandhi, in which he has said abroad that when India will be in a better condition, they will end the reservation of SC, ST and OBC. It is cle

Lateral entry is no panacea: Political turbulence hits govt's move

Navigating government corridors as a lateral entrant to the position of CEO of the Punjab CSR Authority, I quickly learned that fresh ideas often wither without the right groundwork

Nationwide Bharat Bandh: What's open, what's closed. All you need to know.

Bharat Bandh has been declared nationwide after a recent Supreme Court ruling on SC and ST reservations. Watch the video to know the details.

Chirag Paswan hails Centre for seeking cancellation of lateral entry

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Tuesday asserted that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has reaffirmed its "commitment towards SCs, STs and OBCs" by asking the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement for "lateral entry" into the bureaucracy. Addressing a press conference here, Paswan also slammed the Congress-led opposition for "selective criticism" of the ruling NDA and accused the previous governments of failure to fill up posts reserved for the deprived castes. "I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry, on behalf of my Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This government has set a precedent. Hopefully, regimes of future will show a similar sensitivity to public sentiments", Paswan said. Asked about the criticism being faced by the government over the issue, he said "When the opposition points a finger at us, it needs to remember three fingers get pointed at itself. Why did these parties, while in power, ensure recruitments against posts reserved for SCs

Privatisation of IAS 'Modi's guarantee' for ending reservation: Rahul

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday termed as an "anti-national step" the government's move of recruiting public servants through lateral entry, alleging that the reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs is being "openly snatched away" by such an action. The former Congress president also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission". Gandhi's attack came after it emerged that 45 specialists would soon join key posts of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries in different central ministries. Usually, such posts are manned by the officers of all-India services -- the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) -- and Group A services, among others. "Reservation of SC, ST and OBC classes is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on ...

BJP govt recruitments keeping SCs, STs, OBCs away from reservation: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged the BJP is deliberately making recruitments in jobs in a manner that the SC, ST, OBC classes can be kept away from reservation. He asserted it is necessary to fully implement the provisions of economic, social and political justice contained in the Constitution and that is why the Congress is demanding a caste census for social justice. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, "BJP, which has ripped apart the Constitution, has made a double attack on reservation!" "Today the Modi government has issued an advertisement to fill at least 45 posts of Joint Secretary, Directors and Deputy Secretary at the Centre through lateral entry. Is there SC, ST, OBC and EWS reservation in this?" Kharge alleged. "Under a well-planned conspiracy, the BJP is deliberately making such recruitments in jobs so that SC, ST, OBC classes can be kept away from reservation," the Congress president alleged. The "reservation scam" in the appointment of 69,

Govt should have nullified SC's 'creamy layer' judgement via Parl: Kharge

Asserting that the idea of denying reservation to SCs and STs on account of the creamy layer concept is "condemnable", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said the government should have bought a legislation in Parliament to nullify the Supreme Court judgement on the issue. Earlier this month, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud ruled in a 6:1 majority judgement that state governments were permitted to sub-classify communities within the SC list based on empirical data. Supreme Court judge Justice B R Gavai had said that states must evolve a policy for identifying the creamy layer even among the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Schedule Tribes (ST) and deny them the benefit of reservation. "Who do you want to benefit by bringing a creamy layer? By bringing a creamy layer (concept) on one hand you are denying untouchables and giving to those who have enjoyed privileges for thousands of years. I condemn this," Kharge told reporters ...