LUCKNOW: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale on Saturday claimed that Centre is planning to give states the right to provide reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
For this, he said, the NDA government will bring an amendment bill. Athawale’s statement comes after the Centre gave 27% reservation to OBCs and 10% to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in medical college admissions. Republican Party of India chief, Athawale, who was in the state capital, also said that his party wants to contest UP elections, for which a formula is being worked out with BJP. He said his party plans to contest at least 10 seats.
He said his party will start ‘Bahujan Samaj Kalyan Yatra’ from Ghaziabad on September 26. The yatra will culminate as ‘Bahujan Kalyan Maha Rally’ in Lucknow on December 18.
Athawale rubbished BSP chief Mayawati’s claims of Dalit vote standing like a rock behind her. Reacting to BSP’s Brahmin convention, he said Brahmins were, are and will remain with BJP. “RPI will further bring Brahmins and Dalits into BJP folds,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Athawale held a meeting with his party leaders at VVIP Guest House. Later, he met CM Yogi Adityanath and Sunil Bansal.
