Union Cabinet Approves 10% Reservation For Economically Weaker Upper Castes, Months Before Lok Sabha Elections 2019

New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet on Monday approved 10% reservation for economically weaker upper castes, earning less than Rs 8 lakh per annum. TV r

New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet on Monday approved 10% reservation for economically weaker upper castes, earning less than Rs 8 lakh per annum. TV reports claimed a bill to amend Article 15 and 16 of the constitution is likely to be moved in Parliament on Tuesday.

This quota will reportedly be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation. “The reservation will be given to those economically backward poor people who are not availing the benefit of reservation as of now,” news agency PTI quoted a source as saying. Upper castes have welcomed the decision, which was pending since long.

Calling it a ‘poll gimmick’, Congress asked how the government was planning to juggle the numbers for the same since the Supreme Court had placed a 50% limit on quotas. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi questioned why the government waited four years and eight months to announce the move.

“Bohot der kar di meherbaan aate aate’, that also when elections are around the corner. No matter what they do, what ‘jumlas’ they give, nothing is going to save this Govt,” Congress leader Harish Rawat said.

Reacting over the Cabinet’s decision, experts said the NDA government has played its biggest electoral card since its formation in 2014.