New Delhi, Delhi. Union Minister Chirag Paswan has strongly reacted to the protest held at Jantar Mantar against caste-based reservation, saying that reservation is not charity but a right guaranteed by the Constitution and that no force in the world can abolish it.
Paswan said that merely demanding the removal of reservation cannot bring an end to it. He added that those attempting to weaken the system in the name of review or reform must first understand why reservation became necessary.
“Reservation is a constitutional right. It is not charity that is given to someone. No force in the world can abolish it,” the Union Minister said.
He also referred to the discrimination faced by Dalits in society. Referring to an alleged incident involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Uttarakhand, Chirag Paswan said that caste-based discrimination has still not been completely eliminated from society.
He said that incidents continue to emerge from different parts of the country where Dalit youths are allegedly prevented from riding horses or taking out wedding processions. Such incidents, he said, demonstrate that the struggle for social equality and dignity is far from over.
Paswan said that as long as caste-based discrimination continues to exist in society, it would not be appropriate to question the need for or relevance of reservation. He made it clear that the constitutional protections provided to socially backward and marginalised communities would not be allowed to weaken.
The protest at Jantar Mantar over the issue of reservation has intensified the political debate, with leaders from different political parties expressing differing views on the matter.
