Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan joined the DMK chorus for a special session of Parliament in the wake of the Supreme Court stay on OBC reservations. Rejecting the view that caste-reservation is dividing the country, Paswan said reservations united the country by integrating the deprived into the mainstream.

Paswan also supported caste-based census to ascertain the exact number of OBC population state-wise in the country but asserted that this should not hamper the process of existing reservation to the community. “Caste census should be conducted at least once. But do not discontinue reservation since it will cause unrest in the country. The existing Act on reservation must continue,” he said.

Rejecting suggestions for a comprehensive review of the entire reservation system, he said even an all-party meet on the issue was not necessary. “The National Common Minimum Programme of the UPA is clear on the issue. There is nothing more to discuss.”

Paswan dismissed suggestions that the Centre did not represent itself adequately before the SC to ensure reservation for OBCs. The LJP and Dalit Sena also organised a demonstration in Delhi under the leadership of Ramchander Paswan to press for their demand.

The LJP chief said enough data were available to prove that population of OBCs was 52 per cent and in no estimation it was below 27 per cent — which was the current quota for them. He said it was wrong to say that OBCs had been identified and listed on the basis of 1931 Census.

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