Since rozi-roti is becoming more important than Ram, it is the issue of reservation which is taking centre stage.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was the first to re-invent the reservation game and shock the BJP by deciding to provide reservation in government service and academic institutions for the ‘economically backward’ among the upper castes. This would mean crossing the 50 per cent limit set by the Supreme Court. The BJP apprehending an erosion of its own major vote bank also acquiesced. Nobody seems to be taking into account the fact that the decision can only be implemented through an amendment of the Constitution.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has also announced an increase in reservations from 14 per cent to 27 per cent in the civil services of the State for Other Backward Classes (OBC) using the ‘extraordinary situation’ proviso of Article
16 (4).

Recently, Mayawati too decided to deal herself a hand in the game. She announced that she would push her dalit agenda forward, and decided to increase the percentage of reservations for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) and OBC candidates for presiding officers in industrial tribunals and labour courts. Looking at the speed with which politicians are providing reservations in the name of removing socio-economic backwardness, the day is not far off when there will be no quota left for the ‘general classes’.

When Dr. Ambedkar raised the demand for reservation of jobs for dalits, he probably never visualised that the issue would one day be deplorably exploited by politicians just to boost their vote banks. Of course, he probably never visualised that politicians would ever be like most of the present-day ones, bereft of any personal achievement, attribute or personality, and would therefore need vote banks. It was the cruelties that he had seen inflicted on dalits that had motivated him to fight for their cause. In fact, he dropped the issue of a separate electorate for low-caste Hindus when the Congress Party acceded to his demand of reservation.

Last year, during elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singh, the former Chief Minister, in order to entice the backward classes, carved out the ‘Most Backward Class (MBC)’ category among OBCs and decided to give them reservation. But he could not succeed in his plans as the Supreme Court put a spoke in his wheel. He lost the elections and Chief Minister Mayawati later withdrew the orders given by him. Mayawati also successfully pursued the dalit agenda in the election and today she is ruling the state in alliance with the BJP.

In 1990, when the V. P. Singh government decided to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission, it raised widespread protest and anger. Students took to the streets in large numbers and violent demonstrations became the order of the day. While one student actually immolated himself, there were attempts to do so by many others. His policy of reservation for the SC/ST and other OBCs was not acceptable. Even some of the politicians today who are handing out reservations at the drop of a hat were against him those days.

The Supreme Court in 1992 upheld the recommendations of the Mandal Commission and placed a limit of fifty per cent reservation, with the ‘creamy layer’ among the backward classes being kept out of the purview of reservation. (Officially, no ‘creamy layer’ exists. Those who are not eligible for the benefit of reservation, especially among the scheduled cases, continue to reap its benefit).

Thirty-two-year old Ajay Kumar belongs to the SC category but he is unemployed. He rued that only those who can afford it are being benefited by the quota system. He said: "I have been trying for the past 12 years for a clerical job in government service. I’m a graduate, know typing and computer operating. I know no one who could have helped me to enter government service. Moreover, reservation leads to competition among the SC/ST and has alienated us further from the mainstream of society." He said that either one has to have wads of currency to spend or relatives to help get a government job.

Ranjit Sinha, who cannot claim any reservation status, is preparing for the Civil Services examination. He said: "Nobody objects to monetary and other infrastructural benefits provided to the downtrodden classes but, like other people, they should compete with other segments of society to get admission in any college or government services." Moreover, if any undeserving candidate is placed in an important position, it affects the quality of service.

Politicians play the game of reservations for ulterior gain and would not mind dividing the whole of society in the name of the quota system. Earlier, it was just the SC/ST and OBC categories that staked claim to benefits on the basis of their caste. Now Brahmins, Vaishyas and other ‘non-reserved’ classes have also begun clamouring for the benefits of reservation.

National Minorities Commission Chairman Trilochan Singh revealed that demands for reservation are made by minority sections like Sikhs, Muslims and others.

After the VHP’s trishuls and Laloo’s lathis, it is now the turn of Brahmins’ to distribute farsas (axes) to highlight their demand for reservation in government service and academic institutions. They warned that they would not vote for any party in the coming Legislative Assembly and Parliament elections if they were not given reservation. They raised the slogan ‘give reservation and take vote’.

Threatening not to vote in the coming elections, Sarva Brahmin Samaj (SBS) President Suresh Mishra said that they would be distributing farsas to all Brahmins. The farsa was chosen as it is the weapon wielded by Parshuram and symbolises the strength of the of Brahmin community.

He said: "Brahmins have always been a non-violent community but if the need arises, they will not mind raising their voice against the wrong done to them."

Drawing attention towards the socially, politically and economically weak Brahmins, SBS General Secretary Pandit B. M. Sharma said: "In May, members of the SBS invaded the rallies of various leaders in Rajasthan to draw their attention towards the issue of reservation." Both the BJP and the Congress leaders gave them assurances to fulfil their demands but nothing has been done yet."

He said that none of the parties seemed to be serious in their efforts to improve the situation of Brahmins, who were given the highest ranking in society otherwise. Both parties are passing the buck to each other in the matter of reservation.