Dalit leaders oppose SC verdict on reservations; want it to be null and void

Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj led a march against Supreme Court's verdict on reservation accusing Modi government of trying to abolish the provision. He also advocated a special session of Parliament to declare the top court judgement 'null and void'.

New Delhi:Opposing the Supreme Court judgement on reservations and holding central government directly responsible for the court's verdict, Dalit leaders, under 'Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti' led by Congress leader Udit Raj, marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar here on Saturday.

Former MP Udit Raj told ETV Bharat that "a special session of parliament should be called to discuss and declare the verdict null and void".

He said the BJP government in Uttarakhand had argued in the top court that the provision of reservation in Articles 16(4) and 16(A) is not fundamental rights and the government is free to apply or not apply all articles in chapter 3 of the Constitution of fundamental rights.

"There should be reservation for SCs and STs in the higher judiciary, otherwise they would not get justice," he said.

Former MP also said that Mayawati, not doing anything about it when in power, is also responsible for it.

Modi government and leaders like Mayawati have led to this situation, he asserted, adding that today's march was "symbolic" and he would organise bigger than this in future to oppose the Supreme Court' decision on the matter of reservation.

He alleged that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and others have been speaking against reservations.

The Congress leader also said that the provision of reservation for lowers classes should be guarded so that no one touches it.