look news india
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Today, Prime Minister Modi addressed an election rally in East Champaran Lok Sabha seat of Bihar. In which he attacked the opposition on the issue of reservation. He said, 'The truth is that if Ambedkar was not there, Nehru would not have allowed reservation for SC-ST. He alleged that the opposition alliance wants to change the Constitution and give reservation to religious minorities.
Prime Minister Modi said that if Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar had not been there, Nehru ji would not have given SC-ST reservation. He had written a letter to the Chief Minister against this. From Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, all the Prime Ministers of this family opposed OBC reservation.
What were Nehru's views on reservation?
According to a news agency report, India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru did not contribute to the debate in the Constituent Assembly on the ongoing speculations regarding reservation, but after becoming the Prime Minister, he wrote a letter to the Chief Ministers in 1961. He advocated better education for backward classes instead of reservation in jobs on the basis of caste and creed.
Good education is the only option to help the backward class
He wrote in the letter, 'It is true that we are bound by some rules and traditions regarding helping SC-ST. They are entitled to help, but still I do not like reservation in any way, especially in jobs. The only option to help the backward class is to provide good education. This also includes technical education.'
In the letter, he wrote, 'Reservation on the basis of caste destroys influential and capable people, while the society remains second class or third class. I am saddened to know how far reservation on communal lines has progressed in this matter.
What was Ambedkar's opinion?
While addressing the Constituent Assembly, Baba Saheb Ambedkar accepted that this is a 'general principle'. However, in order to stipulate that all citizens should be given equal opportunities in terms of employment, he argued that the term 'backward' is a necessary qualification, so as to ensure that the reservations given to oppressed communities are 'eliminated'. Don't do it. Complete right to equality of opportunity.
As far as backward classes were concerned, Ambedkar argued that this would be decided by each local or state government.