Terming the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s decision to extend the benefits of reservation to economically backward sections among forward communities while making appointments to five Devaswom Boards in the State as a bold attempt to ensure social justice, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made it clear on Saturday that there would be no backtracking from the decision in view of the mounting criticism from various quarters.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a public function at Agali in Attappady, the Chief Minister termed the criticism against the move as a by-product of misunderstanding and deliberate attempts to misinterpret the government’s progressive moves.
“There would not be any let up in our move. We are not taking away any reservation-related benefits enjoyed by socially backward communities comprising Dalits and tribals.
The economically backward segments of forward communities are getting a nominal reservation from the government only after enhancing reservation benefits enjoyed by the socially backward communities,” he said.
He said the recruitment of Dalits as temple priests by the Travancore Devaswom Board in recent days was in fact an attempt reflecting the government’s commitment to social justice. “We have to carry forward a social agenda in which the economically weak also must be empowered. We are opening a new chapter of social justice,” he said.
