Union Minister Athawale Defends Reservation as Constitutional Right, Calls for Ending Caste System
Union Minister of Social Justice Ramdas Athawale said reservation is a constitutional entitlement and that calls to abolish it are unconstitutional, urging the eradication of the caste system first.
Speaking in New Delhi, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale asserted that reservation remains a constitutional guarantee for disadvantaged groups and labeled any demand to scrap it as unconstitutional. He highlighted that while the Constitution bans untouchability under Article 17, caste-based discrimination and attacks on Scheduled Castes persist, especially in rural areas. Athawale urged that the priority should be to eliminate the caste hierarchy before debating reservation policies.
Why it matters
The statement shapes national debate on affirmative action and caste discrimination in India.
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