Mayawati Criticizes BJP and Congress: Calls for Inclusion of Reservations in Ninth Schedule

BSP chief Mayawati criticized the BJP and Congress for not including reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. She claimed these parties do not support the social transformation and economic liberation of backward communities. The Ninth Schedule includes laws resistant to judicial review.

BSP chief Mayawati on Friday criticized the BJP and the Congress for failing to include reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister accused both major political parties of opposing the social transformation and economic liberation of backward communities.

BSP, which holds one MLA each in UP and Punjab, and two in Uttarakhand, remains independent from both the NDA and the INDIA bloc.

''Political oppression pales in comparison to social oppression. Have Dalits and Adivasis achieved freedom from hatred and discrimination? If not, how justifiable is it to withhold reservations from these oppressed castes?'' the Bahujan Samaj Party president posted on X in Hindi.

Mayawati asserted, ''The Congress and BJP parties/governments have been liberal rather than reformist towards SC, ST, and OBC populations. If they supported social transformation and economic liberation, reservations would have been included in the Ninth Schedule for protection.''

The Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists central and state laws immune to judicial review, originally focused on land reforms but now including diverse laws like reservations.