A move that is likely to embolden the demand of the Patidar and other such communities across the country, the Congress party announced support for the reservation for "economically deprived" sections among the higher castes, which are not entitled to any quotas under the present OBC category.
The Congress general secretary in charge of Gujarat, Gurudas Kamat told the media in Ahmedabad that the party supports demand of the Patel community in Gujarat for the reservation in the education and government jobs under the economically backward class (EBC) category.
"We are in favour of additional 15 to 20 per cent quotas for the economically deprived sections among those who are not entitled to any reservation benefit under the present system," Mr. Kamat said, adding, "this is in addition to the 49 per cent quotas reserved for the SC, ST and OBC."
"The central government must go for legislation and must convince the Supreme Court to allow it. It's duty of the government to pass a legislation which stands judicial scrutiny. It's a genuine demand and the Congress party supports it," Mr. Kamat, a former union minister, said.
This is for the first time, the Congress, which has been in opposition in Gujarat since 1998, has taken a clear stand on the quota demand after the powerful community Patidars launched a highly aggressive agitation that has put the Gujarat BJP government in a tight spot where it's appears clueless on the dealing with the issue.
"The Gujarat government has failed to resolve crisis. The way the police dealt with the people of Patel community is condemnable," Mr Kamat said reacting on the Gujarat government's handling of the agitation that triggered violence in which 10 persons including a policeman were killed.
When asked whether the Patels be included in the OBC category, Mr Kamat dismissed it saying the "Congress party stands with the SC, ST and OBCs and will not allow any dilution in their fixed quota. But at the same time, we are advocating additional quotas for the economically deprived sections."
