Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29

After Patels, “upper caste” Brahmins are also demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institution for economically weaker members of their community.

Representatives of various organisations from many states, including Haryana, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today. They sought revival of “Gaur regiment” apart from 15 per cent reservation in jobs and education for economically weaker members of the community.

According to Haryana’s Hariram Dikhsit, national president of the Akhil Bhartiya Brahmin Sangharsh Samiti, Parrikar was “sympathetic” towards their point of view. Attempting to scale up their cause, the representatives have also sought interviews with other senior members of the Modi government including Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari.

Among other issues, their memorandum to the minister talked about the high-level of unemployment among youths belonging to the samaj. “More than 60 per cent educated Brahmin youths in Haryana are unemployed,” Dikshit said.

“We want the government to change the current system and introduce the one based on economic conditions. Our children are not getting good education and jobs because of the current reservation system. Our demand is that economically weaker Brahmins should also get 15 per cent reservation in educational institutions and jobs,” he said.

The demand for reservation from the upper caste community members comes at a time when the country is witnessing a Patidar (Patels) agitation for quota in jobs and education. It follows RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s pitch for review of the current reservation policy, which has resulted in a major political controversy, especially in Bihar.