New Delhi, January 19
The National Knowledge Commission, the high-level advisory body appointed by the Prime Minister, today voiced against religion-based reservation and felt that the government should focus more on providing equal opportunities to all.
“There is no change in our previous stand on the issue,” NKC chairperson Sam Pitroda said replying to a question at a press conference called to release the Commission’s second report presented to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday.
His reply was in response to a question seeking his comment on union home minister Shivraj Patil’s statement this week in which he said the government was looking into the demand of minorities for
reservation.
Pitroda said the Commission’s views on the issue had been made clear long ago, and it was up to the government to accept or reject it. He, however, refused to make any direct comment on the proposal mooted in Uttar Pradesh for reservation to
SC/STs and economically weaker section among the upper caste in private industry.
Reacting on a question about religion-based reservation, NKC member Jayati Ghosh said “We don’t think that reservation is the way. We should rather stress more on increasing participation in schools and expanding higher education facilities.” In this context, she also drew the attention to the Supreme Court
judgement, which states that reservations cannot exceed 50 per cent.
