Meira proposes, Cong disposes

In a clear rebuff to Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar, the Congress party today dissociated itself from her zealous campaign for job reservation in the private sector as also for an increase in the reservation quota for the Scheduled Castes, commensurate with the increase in their population.

"We believe that at this stage it will not be possible to have compulsory reservation of that kind (for SCs/STs in private sector)," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said today, re-iterating the party's stated position on this issue.

"Nevertheless, efforts will be made to give representation to the weaker sections in the private sector," he said in a press briefing on Monday.

The party appeared to be endorsing the industries' stand on this issue, as Singhvi added, "Industrialists say that we (they) are voluntarily ready to do it... It will be possible for a future government to legislate on this matter."

Sources in the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry said that the draft proposal providing for reservation in private sector was ready to be submitted for Cabinet consideration, but it had to be deferred due to interventions from the Prime Minister's Office.

"The PMO wanted to make some suggestions. We are waiting for those suggestions to come," said sources.

The Congress party was also ill at ease to clarify its stance on Meira Kumar's statement about the proposal to increase the quota for the SCs from 15 to 16.23 per cent to provide for the increase in their population as per the latest census.

Singhvi said that the party could not take a stance on it unless there was a concrete proposal and until it came to the Cabinet.

"This is an issue of national importance and on all such issues widest possible consultations will be held before taking any decision. All parties including those which are not part of the UPA, will also be consulted," said the Congress spokesman, adding that at this stage the party was not aware of any such move by the said ministry.

Ministry sources told Business Standard that the idea of increasing the reservation for SCs was at a 'nebulous stage'.

"It's true that the overall quota will go up by almost two per cent over and above the 50 per cent limit fixed by the Supreme Court, if the increase in the population of SCs/STs were accounted for. But, it can be done through Parliament. Tamil Nadu also has 69 per cent reservation," Meira Kumar's close aides said.