The party demanded that the government go for a review of the Supreme Court order and demanded a central law to undo what it called a "violation" of Constitution on the issue of creamy layer." The demand was made in the Lok Sabha by RJD's Devendra Prasad Yadav. The RJD is the second largest constituent of the Congress-led ruling coalition. |
"The gvernment should set up a committee to look into the matter (exclusion of the creamy layer) and bring in a central legislation to have quota for all OBC students. This is not a quota for jobs or poverty alleviation but a quota to provide opportunity," he said during Zero Hour.
Maintaining that the court ruling would exclude 52 per cent population from the benefit, he said, "An iron gate has been erected to bar the OBC students from higher learning. There is no provision in the Constitution for an economic criteria. It is a violation of the constitutional provisions."
Yadav's contention drew support from Samajwadi Party leader Ramji Lal Suman, as also members of the DMK and the PMK. While Suman blamed the government for "deciding not to challenge" the order, BJD's B Mahtab sought a review of the criteria of Rs 2.5 lakh annual income to determine the "creamy layer".
"This (Rs 2.5 lakh) parameter was fixed way back in 2003 and has been upheld by the Supreme Court. It should be reviewed," Mahtab said.
