Parties team up to scream against creamy order

Speaking to reporters at the Iftar hosted by him this evening, the Prime Minister said, “The Supreme Court has taken a decision. We have to study it and then we will act.”

Taken in conjunction with the Congress party’s initial reaction yesterday — that the SC judgment would “inevitably and understandably raise a new debate” — the PM’s comment indicated that the government would not be averse to legislative action to undo the court’s order if necessary.

The most forceful plea for parliamentary intervention came from Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav today who demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened immediately to discuss the situation arising out of the SC order and take “remedial legal and constitutional steps.”

Union minister and Lok Janashakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan also told The Indian Express that his party was totally against the contents of the SC order. Introduction of the creamy layer concept, he argued, was aimed at scuttling reservations for the Dalits and tribals who continued to be at the bottom of the country’s socio-economic ladder.

The CPI(M), which supports keeping out the creamy layer when it comes to OBCs, also made it clear that it would not back any move to dilute existing reservation provisions for the SC/STs. In a statement issued today, the CPI(M) politburo said, “The Constitution has no provision for creamy layer within the Scheduled Castes and Tribes precisely because of the compelling realities of their socio-economic oppression and exploitation. It is unfortunate that the court has ignored the social reality while pronouncing judgement on such a vital issue.”

CPI leader D Raja had already made it clear yesterday that his party would oppose the move tooth and nail, and — like Sharad Yadav — criticized the judiciary for pronouncing on policies that belonged to the legislature’s domain.

Addressing a joint press conference in...