Give 25 pc reservation to poor from general castes: Athawale

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) Batting for quota to the poorfrom general category, Union minister Ramdas Athawale todaysaid the reservation limit should be raised to 75 per centfrom existing 50 per cent, giving the additional 25 per centquota to economically backwards in the general castes. The Minister of State for Social Justice also said hewill approach the Prime Minister in this regard and will seeif Constitutional amendment can be made for the additionalquota. Noting that reservation can never be abolished, even ifsome people are opposed to it, he said he has always demandedreservation for economically backward classes from all casteswhether they are Jats in Haryana, Patels in Gujarat, Marathasin Maharashtra or the Brahmins. "Once this happens there will be no agitation forreservation and I am saying this despite being from Dalitcommunity as there are economically weaker classes in allcastes," Athawale added. For this there should be an additional 25 per centreservation for economically backward classes in all castesabove the present 49.5 per cent mandated in the Constitution,the minister said. "…economically backward classes in all castes should begiven 25 per cent reservation by taking the total reservationlevel to 75 per cent and keep the remaining 25 per cent openfor all. This will resolve all issues of all castes," he said. However, the RPI(A) chief said the change should be madewithout tinkering with the current reservation for SCs, STsand OBCs. "For once we can resolve this issue and it will be goodfor the development of the nation," he said. Athawale also suggested that another way to solve theissue was by according reservation on the basis of therespective caste’s percentage in the population. As per 2011 census, there are 16.6 per cent SCs, 5.6 percent STs and 52 per cent OBCs in the country, which accountsfor 77.2 per cent of the population, while they are getting49.5 per cent reservation, Athawale said. And the remaining 22.8 per cent are getting 50.5 per centreservation, so another way could be that reservation shouldbe given as per the respective caste’s population, he said. At present, according to the Constitution, 15 per centseats are reserved for SCs, 7.5 per cent for STs and 27 percent for OBCs in central government-funded higher educationinstitutions and jobs and even in elections. PTI JTR AAR ZMNAAR