Chennai, Apr 4 (FN Bureau) Stoutly opposing the Centre’s 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K.Stalin and said it amounted to ‘economic justice’ and could never be ‘social justice’. In his virtual address at the first national conference of All India Federation for Social Justice, organised by the DMK in Delhi in which leaders of different political parties participated last evening, Mr Stalin said the Union BJP Govt has cunningly added “economically” along with socially and educationally. “They have already given reservation on the basis of economic status. It is not a static criterion though. One who is poor today can become rich tomorrow and vice versa.
A few can even conceal the amount they possess. Hence it is not right to have this criterion for reservation”, he said. Observing that the BJP implements EWS on the pretext of poor among forward castes, he said this is not social justice. “We do not prevent any financial help for the poor and needy. It is economic justice and not social justice”, he added. “If something is for the poor, should not it be for poor among all castes? Why the exception for forward castes? Is it not injustice to push the poor oppressed caste people out of the EWS ambit?”, he sought to know. “This is the reason we oppose EWS…It is the BJP Government’s ploy to give 10% reservation for the forward castes under EWS”, the Chief Minister said.
“Those who said reservation is against merit are supporting EWS reservation alone. I don?t want to further explain the agenda behind this. It is their grudge that reservation paves way for the upward mobility for all communities which make them speak against reservation”, Mr Stalin said. “What is their logic to support 10% EWS reservation then? Is it not against merit? They are trying to take us back in time when only the so called high castes could study. It should be stopped at all costs”, he noted.