Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Reservation at the cost of reputation?' that was published in Newsband

Reservation at the cost of reputation?

The well-off communities are demanding reservation, be it Patidars in Gujarat or Jats in Haryana. The demands for reservations from these powerful communities is also a consequence of the success of 65 years of reservations for Dalits and Adivasis.

Now either the reservation system must be completely abolished or provide it to everyone. So long as quotas and reservations divide the society, so long as India is fragmented on the basis caste and community for vote politics, India is neither a free society nor progressive society. It will continue to remain as feudal society. These looting and vandalism are the hallmark of feudalism.

The message passed on to different communities in India by the act of the government through yielding to the demand for reservation is that violent methods will ensure success. This will open Pandora's Box and the government will soon face violence in different forms to obtain reservation initiated by even progressed communities.

This reservation nonsense is another example of vote bank politics in India. The UPA Govt in their last few days in power, announced or took steps for which the society is still paying a big value. The sudden hanging of Afzal Guru and this announcement of giving OBC status to people belonging to Jat community are some of them.

Jat community is demanding reservation. They are saying that they are backward as compared to other communities of the state, and are economically deprived also. Our government (both at Center and State) is also supporting them and has promised them the reservation. But, how can government think of giving them "the quota". Haryana is a state where most of the Chief Ministers were Jats, most of the land belongs to Jats, and most of the prestigious posts are held by jats. But still jats are demanding quota. This decision of government to grant them quota is really bad. In future all well off communities will start demanding the same and will indulge in same violent activities.

Why should so well-established communities demand reservations? Why are these land-owning communities afraid of competing in every field? Why are they yearning for the alms given to the weaker sections of the society? Are they not concerned about their reputation? Do they want reservation at the cost of their reputation?

Reservation itself has become the main cause of the backwardness. Moreover its benefits are enjoyed by a very small fraction of the society. It has become a major source of corruption. Therefore it should be reduced gradually. Who will like to be treated by a doctor who has been selected by virtue of reservation particularly when he is unconscious and has to be treated in emergency? Similarly we are already paying the price for employing reservation to R and D, Teaching, PSU, Government Jobs and many other important jobs and professions. This has also caused collateral damage in the form of Brain Drain, inefficiency, discontentment, lack of healthy competition and will to improve. However, Scholarships should be extended to all deserving cases including all economically weaker sections.