Congress Leaders Slam Modi Govt for Denying Reservation in Private Institutions; Demand Immediate Implementation of Article 15(5)

Congress Leaders Slam Modi Govt for Denying Reservation in Private Institutions; Demand Immediate Implementation of Article 15(5)

New Delhi May 5 – Senior Congress leaders Dr. Anil Jaihind, Chairman of the AICC-OBC Department, and Rajesh Lilothia, Chairman of the AICC-SC Department, have jointly slammed the Modi government for its continued inaction on implementing reservation for Dalits, tribals, and socially and academically backward classes in private educational institutions, despite constitutional and judicial approval over a decade ago.

Historic Amendment Ignored for 11 Years

Dr. Jaihind recalled that under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Education Minister Arjun Singh, the 93rd Constitutional Amendment was enacted. This pivotal reform introduced Article 15(5) to the Constitution, allowing the State to make special provisions for the advancement of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and socially and educationally backward classes — even in private educational institutions, excluding minority-run ones.

Initially implemented in government institutions, the provision was legally challenged by private players. However, in January 2014, the Supreme Court upheld the government’s power to provide such reservations in private educational institutions as well.

“But after the 2014 general elections, when the BJP came to power, the Modi government failed to frame the necessary law to implement this reservation,” Dr. Jaihind said. “This has resulted in 11 years of denial of educational rights to the most marginalized sections of society.”

Congress: Championing Social Justice Nationwide

Speaking further on the issue, Rajesh Lilothia, Chairman of the AICC-SC Department, emphasized the Congress Party’s unwavering fight against injustice and the RSS-backed mindset that, according to him, opposes social equality.

“Under the leadership of Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress Party has consistently fought against the regressive ideology of the RSS across the country,” Lilothia said.

He highlighted how Rahul Gandhi, through his massive people-connect campaigns like ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, became the voice of India’s marginalized and backward communities.

Lilothia also referenced the ‘Count Up’ campaign run by the Congress, which sought transparency and equity through the demand for a nationwide caste census.

“Rahul Gandhi often says: ‘Until there is a caste census in India, the country cannot have an X-ray. We won’t know how many people belong to which class and what their real economic and social status is.’”

He stressed that Rahul Gandhi’s advocacy has played a major role in forcing the ruling BJP to acknowledge the need for social justice.

“Today, Narendra Modi and BJP are being forced to bow before the reality that Rahul Gandhi has always spoken about — the need for dignity, justice, and opportunity for India’s deprived and oppressed citizens,” Lilothia asserted.

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Key Highlights:

• Article 15(5): Introduced by the 93rd Amendment under UPA rule to allow reservation in private educational institutions.
• 2014 Supreme Court Verdict: Upheld the constitutional validity of reservation in private institutions.
• Modi Govt’s Failure: No enabling law framed in 11 years, depriving millions of backward students.
• Congress Response:
  • Led by Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress is confronting RSS ideology.
  • Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo and Nyay Yatra raised the issue of social justice.
  • Campaigns like ‘Count Up’ aimed to promote caste census and data-based justice.