Union minister Ramdas Athawale pitches for SC, ST quota in Cabinet, Rajya Sabha

Union Minister and Dalit leader Ramdas Athawale on Thursday pitched for reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Union Cabinet and Rajya Sabha.

“When I was in the Lok Sabha, I had demanded that the way reservation exists there with some constituencies reserved for SCs and STs, similarly reservations should be there in the Rajya Sabha and also in the Union Cabinet,” he said.

Athawale, a Dalit leader from Maharashtra also said that without touching SC/ST/OBC reservation, 25% of general seats should be reserved for economically backward people.

“Without touching SC/ST/OBC reservation, 25% of the general seats should be reserved for economically backward people,” he added.

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The Dalit leader from Maharashtra said that Dalits getting reservation and others not is the reason behind atrocities on them.

“Major reason for atrocities on Dalits is that they get reservation and others don't,” Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale said.

The Republican Party of India (A) leader also sought quotas for them in the armed forces.

Athawale reaffirmed his demand for enhancing reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to 75 per cent, saying his party supports quotas for the economically poor from all castes.

(With PTI inputs)