New Delhi: Asserting that there is no need for any "debate" on the issue of reservation, BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday it is a constitutional right of the weaker sections of society.
The Lok Janshakti Party president's comments come days after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks that there should be conversation in harmonious atmosphere between those in favour of reservation and those against it.
Paswan, however, did not react directly to Bhagwat's comments, saying he did not know details of his remarks.
He said reservation is a constitutional right and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated it many times that it cannot tampered with.
"There is no need for any debate on reservation. This is now available even to the upper castes poor so it is impossible that it will be ended," he told reporters.
He accused opposition parties of doing politics over the issue.
"Opposition parties are trying to fuel a controversy. But I believe their lies are not going to cut ice with the people. They tried to make reservation an issue even during the recent Lok Sabha elections but failed," Paswan stated.
"Reservation is a constitutional right and this right was the result of the Poona Pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Thus, it is not a debatable issue. Reservation was earlier limited to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward classes. Now the Narendra Modi government has extended reservation for economically backward upper castes," he said.
Paswan noted that even the RSS has clarified that it fully supports reservations.
"Therefore, neither there is any dispute on reservation nor is there any need of further debate," he said.
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