OBC MPs across parties voice reservation against 'attempts to dilute' reservations

OBC MPs cutting across party lines today voiced reservation against "attempts to dilute" the reservation policy while attending a meeting of a parliamentary panel.

The meeting of the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes on Tuesday saw a number of members from various parties, including the ruling BJP, saying that they will not allow any change in the existing reservation policy.

Some members from the opposition parties rued that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite being an OBC, was not doing enough for the communities. The members said that there are more than 160 members from OBC in both houses of Parliament and they will not allow dilution in the existing quota system.

The remarks came in the backdrop of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for review of reservation policy.

RSS, however, later clarified that he did not speak about the existing quota system, but said everybody should try to ensure that all weaker sections reap its benefits.

The clarification from the RSS came after BJP, which is locked in a tough fight with the alliance of backward satraps Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad in Bihar, distanced itself from Bhagwat's comments and insisted that it was against any reconsideration of the reservation policy. Meanwhile, the Committee also expressed concerns on large number of OBC posts in government jobs remaining vacant for years. The panel favoured a special drive to fill up these posts.