October 4, 2003

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

On Upper Caste Reservations

 The Union Cabinet decision to accord reservations to economically backward classes amongst the upper castes is  an unfiltered electoral gimmick.  This issue has been under discussion since the Mandal Commission days.  The CPI(M) opined that this merits consideration and a national consultation process must be initiated.

 The Vajpayee government refused to act all these years.  The timing of  the present Cabinet decision completely exposes this BJP-led NDA government's insincerity and opportunism.  Finding its electoral fortunes rather tenuous in the five states that are shortly going to the polls, the BJP has resorted to adding caste-based politics  to its religious-based communalism as a means to improve its fortunes.  That the whole exercise is a ruse becomes clear with the Cabinet decision to set-up a commission to work out  the modalities.  In any case, the next Parliament session will only be after these state elections. 

The economic policies of Vajpayee government is  ensuring the transfer of India's national assets to private capital, thus, reducing drastically employment opportunities based on  job reservations in the country.  With growing unemployment and privatisation, reservations have little meaning left. 

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls upon the Indian people to see through this gimmick.