Mayawati pitches for reservation for upper caste poor

With an eye on Gujarat Assembly polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today pitched for reservation for poor among the upper castes, and accused both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party for not paying attention to this.

Vadodara, Sept 16 : With an eye on Gujarat Assembly polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today pitched for reservation for poor among the upper castes, and accused both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party for not paying attention to this.

Mayawati told a party rally here that she had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding reservations for the upper caste poor and told him that her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to make an amendment in the Constitution.

"However, the Prime Minister had replied in the negative about the BSP's proposal," Mayawati added.

Mayawati said that 10 per cent reservations each for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities and weaker sections of upper castes have been made in new industrial units or projects in the State after her party came to power.

"If it can be done in UP, then why it cannot be done at national level?" she added.

Mayawati further said that both the Congress and the BJP are closer to corporate houses and capitalists; and they will oppose the reservation for upper caste poor.

She said that her party will have no tie-up with any political party for Gujarat Assembly polls and will put up candidates for all the 182 seats.

ANI