It is indeed surprising that the issue of inclusion in a reservationist list, raised by the Gujjars was not connected with the larger issue of SC / ST reservations facing the country, by any media channel or newspaper. The point is that any type of reservation, whether right or wrong, will only lead to dissatisfaction amongst the people who are not benefiting and have been kept out of the purview of the reservation.This in turn will at some point in the future, manifest itself into a protest which could be similar to that of the Gujjars in Rajasthan.Faced with this possible scenario, wouldnt it be better to rethink the basis of reservations?Does it not make sense to have reservations for everyone, across race religion and caste, based on only economic considerations?
This will ensure that the reservations will reach out to those who need them and also those who do not get the benefit of the reservation policy, will be only the economically very well off, who will not need the reservations badly enough to come out on the streets in a violent protest. They could always pay their way in.Also, I am truly surprised how no political party realises that there is one big caste, one big religion, meaning one big set of votes in India and that is the vote of the Have-nots.This is the biggest vote bank today, and if the reservation is for all have nots, wont the political party which suggests it, be the most popular?