Affirmative Inaction.

Affirmative Inaction.

This is with reference to the the brilliant analysis reservation
politics, Affirmative Inaction, (IE,4/6/12) by Pratap Bhanu Mehta.
What is the goal of reservation ? Is it just a tool to redress the
discrimination of the past ? Or is it a measure to restore social
mobility ? Or else, equal opportunity for all ? There is no precise
answer to these questions.When the Constitution was framed the eminent
legal luminaries such as Dr.B.R.Ambedkar and others it was restricted
to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes as they were the most
backward groups of people in the country and it was restricted to ten
years.Now it has been extended to OBCs and one more category is being
added and that is,minorities. Reservation is being used for political
purposes, not to benefit the poor. Our Constitution envisages a
class-less and caste-less society. The reservation seems to perpetuate
our divisions rather making us a 'one nation'. Why not make
reservation only on the basis of income alone ? This would benefit all
poor, not just some privileged poor.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/affirmative-inaction/957413/

June 4,2012.

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Bharatiya Janata Parties.

Bharatiya Janata Parties.

Pratap Bhanu Mehta's analysis of BJP is both right and wrong. He is right in saying that the party has become a diluted version of Congress. He forgets that the diversity of India demands a broad-based inclusive party. Dynastic democracy of the Congress, SP,BSP or the slavish orthodoxy of the Communists have failed India. He is also right in saying that BJP has not been able to take advantage of the mis-govenance by the Congress - rampant corruption, waste of public money in populist schemes etc. The defiance of Yudirappa in Karnataka, inclusion of a tainted minister of BSP in UP and the non-cooperation of Modi have not enhanced appeal of the party. However, BJP's state governments have initiated a number of measures to promote good governance - e-governance, 24-hours electricity supply,business-friendly administration (Gujarat), right to time-bound government services (Madhya Pradesh) and delivery of ration to BPL card-holders (Chhattisgarh). All these have been reported in your newspaper. BJP has to come up with a charter of good governance including investigation and punishment to the wrong doers for the next general election. The Congress has failed in providing good governance.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bharatiya-janata-parties/952080/0

May 22, 2012.

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