New Delhi: The Congress, on Monday, came out in full support of Modi government’s decision on 10% reservation, saying it is committed to every step being taken for making the poor stakeholders in the prosperity of the society. We may have political differences with the BJP but we shall stand with our staun-chest political opponent in helping out the poor,” Congress chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told a press conference here, asserting that his party supports any decision to support the economically poorest sections of the society “but bereft of caste, community or creed.
Please create reservation. We welcome it. But the youth are asking when you will create jobs. Without jobs, the reservation will prove to be another jumla (gimmick) for election purposes,” he said. He, however, made it clear that the Congress will not doubt the government’s intentions since the Congress will stand with every step taken to provide opportunity of education and employment to the poorest among the poor.
The Congress stand is clear and that is also Rahul Gandhi’s stand that without interfering with the Constitutional mandate of reservation to SCs, STs and OBCs, we have always supported the maxim that those who are generally poor may also be given opportunity of both education and employment,” he said. Surjewala claimed the basis of the government’s decision is the report of the Commission for uplift of the economically poor set up by the Congress-led UPA government in 2010-11 which also recommended 10% reservation for them.
He said the truth, however, is that the Modi government has suddenly woken up four years and eight months late while facing imminent defeat and when only 100 days are left to go to the polls. Though he won’t question the government’s intent, the truth should be told that this government has attacked India’s poor, farmers and small traders consistently. Demonetisation alone cost loss of 2 crore jobs.
He asked PM Modi where are 10 crore jobs in five years he promised and why 24 lakh posts in the government sector under him are lying vacant. He refused to deal with the legality of the government decision, saying the government must have checked all legal and constitutional aspects while taking the decision and he would repeat again and again the Congress stands with every step taken in the interest of the poor
