Mayawati opposes 'creamy layer' for SCs, STs in reservation, hits out at RSS

Lucknow, BSP leader Mayawati has spoken out against the "creamy layer" concept within reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). In a post on social media platform X, Mayawati emphasized that reservation is a highly sensitive and crucial matter for these communities, who have endured centuries of discrimination, exploitation, and deprivation.

She strongly argued that discussing a creamy layer for SCs and STs is inappropriate and contradicts the humanitarian objectives of the Constitution, which was drafted under the leadership of Dr BR Ambedkar.

Reservation, according to Mayawati, is fundamentally about granting millions of people, who have been victims of the caste system, their constitutional and legal right to equality on humanitarian grounds. She criticized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for suggesting that reservation has been deliberately politicized, leading to bitterness in society.

Mayawati labeled the RSS position as reflecting a casteist mindset and warned that it might serve narrow political interests but would undermine constitutional objectives. She asserted that caste discrimination cannot be measured solely through economic progress, as its impact continues to affect every aspect of the lives of those who have suffered from it.

Mayawati urged the current government to effectively argue its case before the courts to keep SCs and STs outside the scope of the creamy layer if it believes this approach is valid. She pointed out that successive governments have been aware of the ground reality and urged the present administration to present a strong case to the courts.

If the government, based on valid arguments and with proper legal representation, successfully persuades the court to exclude SCs and STs from the creamy layer, she considered it entirely appropriate and constitutional.

Additionally, Mayawati criticized courts for often failing to deliver appropriate justice in matters concerning social transformation due to inadequate government responses and a lack of effective legal representation. She also urged the RSS to respect the Constitution and cease advocating changes to the reservation system. She urged the RSS to stop politicizing reservation and advocating any interference with the reservation system, calling for cooperation to fulfill the constitutional objective of establishing an equalitarian social order.