Just a few days ago, a number of protesters blocked the railway tracks near Kafurpur railway station which is 300 km from Lucknow. The motive was very clear, they were demanding reservation for Jat community under OBC (other backward classes) category. Evidently, the common people suffered due to their demonstrations. Routes of 30 trains were changed and 5 other were cancelled disturbing quite busy Delhi-Lucknow rail route. Further, the Jat Arakshan Samiti cadre threatened to intensify its agitation if the central government doesn't pay attention to their demands.
A similar incident occured around 2 months back when Gujjar community agitated demanding 5% reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions disrupting the movements of trains between Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur in Rajasthan. This agitation started off in 2007 and had cost 70 lives so far. The State Government of Rajasthan tried to negotiate the whole issue by offering Rs 2.8 billion to improve schools, clinics, roads and other infrastructure in Gujjar areas but Gujjar community turned down the offer and preferred to stick to their demand of 'special status'.
Not showing any different story, recently, All India Muslim Morcha demanded 8.44 % reservation for Muslims from UP Government following the lines of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal. West bengal already provides 10% reservation to this community under OBC.
The constituion of India gives the right to equality to every individual and mentions the 'Secularism' as one of its key ideals. But ironically, every other person is vying for special status in this country. Sometimes in the name of caste, religion, SC, ST or minority. But the question here is can we afford to make the minority happy at the cost of the rights of the majority? Whether continuing the similar reservation criteria even after more than 60 years of independence is not an overburden on so called General category which is receiving a feeling of minorty in its own country? Is it continuous governmental failure of 60 years or a harsh check on the patience of the majority?
Whenever majority raises its voice for right to equality, it is reminded of the word "Secularism" included in the Constitution. Unfortunately, the so called "liberals" who defend the 'special status phenomenon' forget that it is a threat to Secularism itself. The Central Government of India reserves 27% of higher education. Further, individual states can also legislate additional reservations. Reservation should not be extended over 50% as per the ruling but certain states like Rajasthan offer 68% reserved seats (which includes 14% for forward castes). SC and STs who have already entered into mainstream are still using its benefit. What about the poor people who belong to the upper castes or the majority category? Why it can't be economic status based rather than based on Caste or religion?
Today, our youth prefers to leave the country rather than struggling for an opportunity in his own nation. Rural India is still not benefitted and the prevailing reservation system is too rigid. Pragmatically, 60% of India(again the majority) that lives in villages needs schools, health facilities, roads, food, safe drinking water and not reservations in urban institutions. The general category never raised voice against the reservation given to war widow's kids or the tribals living in pathetic conditions but it does feel being cheated when people demand undeserving special status.
This whole scenario has created a rift between reserved and unreserved category within a country. I would like to use the word 'majority' for people belonging to unreserved category. This gap, that's been generated sometimes out of need and sometimes because of politicisation of the issue is increasing the dissatisfaction among the majority and that is transforming into anger and the next stage will be- hatred against the minority/undeserving reserved class. And keeping this in picture, clashes between the two are obvious which is a threat to a secular, stable society and for an economy beholding the
transformation from 'developing' to 'developed'. Someone rightly quoted that the goodwill of the minority is secure if the goodwill of the majority is secured.
We need not to go too far to understand the aftermath of providing 'special status' to a particular section of the society. A state of India was given 'special status' in Constitution of India 62 years back and we are still witnessing its consequences. Even a serious issue becomes irritating when it has 'reservation' or 'special status' tag attatched to it. Either don't ask for 'special status' or don't talk about 'right to equality', both the things can't go together.
--penned by
Anubha Shukla.
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