ABVP backs reservation, says calls to scrap quotas need deeper understanding
The ABVP has reiterated its support for reservation and said it should continue. The remarks underline its social harmony plank and its claim of raising student issues regardless of power.
RSS-affiliated student organisation ABVP has said it supports reservation and believes the system is necessary for the country. In an interview with PTI, ABVP national general secretary Dr Virendra Singh Solanki said the organisation stands by reservation and that calls for its removal require a detailed understanding of the issue.
Solanki also said the ABVP does not hold back from taking up student issues because the BJP is in power. He said the organisation works strongly on student concerns regardless of which party is in government, and seeks solutions through dialogue before resorting to agitation.
Solanki, an MBBS graduate, said the ABVP believes that everyone should move forward together and that this is why reservation is needed. "The Constitution provides for reservation and reservation should continue," he said.
"The ABVP has always stood with reservation. We have consistently stated that reservation is necessary in the country," he added.
On demands from some groups for reform or removal of the existing reservation policy, Solanki said, "I think those making such demands need a detailed understanding of the issue."
He added, "We need to understand what the country requires." The ABVP general secretary said the student organisation's ideology is based on social harmony and that it believes everyone should move forward together. "Therefore, reservation is necessary," he said.
Several people had gathered in Delhi on August 21 after an Instagram page, 'Reservation Hatao Andolan', called for a protest to demand that reservation be scrapped. The protesters said economic criteria should be given precedence over caste in deciding eligibility for government support and reservation.
The government later reached out to representatives of the group leading the protest, and Union Minister JP Nadda held what was described as a "cordial discussion" with them at a meeting.
Asked whether the ABVP feels constrained in aggressively raising students' issues because the BJP is in power, Solanki said, "The ABVP's position is very clear, whether the government is BJP's or non-BJP... we work strongly and aggressively on student issues."
He said the organisation does not always pursue student issues through confrontation and often tries to resolve them through talks. "Sometimes a solution can emerge through dialogue. If it does not, the ABVP is ready to struggle. On student issues, we move forward in the direction of a solution without any political agenda," Solanki said.