Dalit plank: BJP on next rung

A lacklustre affair till yesterday, the BJP Scheduled Caste cell’s national meet closed with promises of fireworks, as it called for re...

A lacklustre affair till yesterday, the BJP Scheduled Caste cell’s national meet closed with promises of fireworks, as it called for reservation for Dalits in the private sector today.

The proposal made it to the list of recommendations adopted at the meeting, which will be made public on Buddha Purnima in Bhopal next month after being cleared by the national executive.

Hinting at the need for reservation in the private sector, BJP president Venkaiah Naidu said: ‘‘Disinvestment is taking place everywhere. What will be the fate of the SC/ST youth and weaker sections? A national debate and consensus is required on how to protect their interest.’’

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Drawing attention to Naidu’s statement, Uma Bharti said: ‘‘I want to place a very important issue before the country through the media, an issue that had been raised by former President K.R. Narayan. If there are no reservations in the private sector, if merit is the criteria then what about educational standards? How can you compare a Dalit student of MP and Bihar to one who has studied in DPS, Delhi.’’

‘‘From Mhow, this debate must start. If educational opportunities are not the same then special opportunities should be made available in the private sector,’’ she said.

Saying such reservations will not have any adverse effect on efficiency, Bharati said: ‘‘ The difference is not one of intelligence but of excellence. And this excellence can be attained through vocational training. If we do not find ways to accommodate the expectations of the Dalits, we are in for total anarchy.’’

BJP state vice-president Gaurishankar Shejwar, himself a Dalit, confirmed a proposal on reservation in the private sector has been made part of the list of recommendations. The final BJP document released today was similar in spirit to Digvijay’s ‘‘Bhopal Declaration’’, suggesting even similar programmes of land distribution for Dalits.