On Saturday, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati strongly criticized the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress for their quiet stance on the Supreme Court's recent ruling regarding the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) reservations. She accused these parties of having an "anti-reservation" mindset.
In a series of posts on social media, Mayawati questioned why SP and Congress have not clearly expressed their views on the Supreme Court's decision from August 1, which allows states to categorize SCs and STs further to ensure that the most disadvantaged groups within these communities receive appropriate reservation benefits.
Mayawati argued that while SP, Congress, and others may appear to support SC/ST reservations, their lack of response to the Court's ruling suggests a deeper, underlying opposition to such policies. She warned that their silence indicates an anti-reservation attitude and called for vigilance in this situation.
She also noted that it seems like SP, Congress, and similar parties are internally united against reservation policies. As a result, Mayawati emphasized the need for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to independently safeguard their reservation rights and advocate for their interests with wisdom.
The Supreme Court's decision, made by a majority of 6:1 led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, allows states to implement sub-classification within SCs and STs, provided it is supported by appropriate standards and data. The ruling aims to ensure that more marginalized groups within these communities receive the reservation benefits they need.
Following this decision, some Dalit and tribal groups have called for a nationwide strike on August 21 to protest against the Supreme Court's ruling on SC/ST sub-classification.
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