EWS quota is ‘economic justice’ and not ‘social justice’, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Bringing together leaders of different political parties on a virtual platform on April 3, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly opposed the 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among the Open Competition category.

Bringing together leaders of different political parties on a virtual platform on April 3, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly opposed the 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among the Open Competition category.

He declared that it amounted to “economic justice” and could never be “social justice”.

Presiding over the first All India Federation for Social Justice virtually, Mr. Stalin accused the BJP Government at the Centre of “cunningly” including economic backwardness along with social and educational backwardness.

“They have already given reservations on the basis of economic status. Economic status is not a permanent yardstick. A poor today may be a rich tomorrow and vice versa. A few can conceal the fact that they had money. Hence it is not right to have this criterion for reservation,” he elaborated.

Making it clear that he was not against extending financial help to the poor and needy, he wondered if something was for the poor, should not it be for poor among all castes? “Why the exception for forward castes? Is it not an injustice to push the poor oppressed caste people out of the EWS ambit? This is the reason we oppose EWS,” he pointed out.

Mr. Stalin said it was the ploy of the BJP Government to give 10% reservation for the forward castes under EWS. “Those who said reservation is against merit are supporting reservation for the EWS. What is their logic to support a 10% reservation for the EWS then? Is it not against merit?” he asked.

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