CPM hasn146;t given up 145;creamy layer146; position

Even though the CPIM did not raise the issue of keeping the 8216;8216;creamy layer8217;8217; among OBCs out of the ambit of reservations during the UPA coordination meeting...

Even though the CPIM did not raise the issue of keeping the 8216;8216;creamy layer8217;8217; among OBCs out of the ambit of reservations during the UPA coordination meeting on Tuesday, it has not given up its position on the issue. The party is likely to raise it during consultations for the enabling legislation on reservations that will be brought in during the monsoon session.

8216;8216;We did not raise the issue of socially and economically backward classes during the meeting because it was not relevant at the time. We were discussing the implementation aspect, whether it would be done through an ordinance, a legislation or an executive order. But, we have been talking about the so-called creamy layer since the sixties,8217;8217; CPIM general secretary Prakash Karat told The Indian Express.

The CPIM8217;s position is: distinct from the SCs and STs, there is a differentiation among the OBCs and reservations should benefit the needy sections and the socio-economic criteria should exclude the affluent in these communities and those with access to jobs and higher education.

However, the issue of the 8216;creamy layer8217; was opposed by Left partner CPI and the idea was dropped at the time for the sake of unity. According to CPI national secretary D Raja, the 8216;creamy layer8217; distinction should not be made and OBCs should be regarded as a group.

But the differences in position go back further. For instance, the CPI wanted the implementation of the Mandal Commission8217;s recommendations without using the test of economic criteria for the backward classes. On the other hand, the CPIM has backed the Karpoori Thakur formula to exclude the richer sections among the backward classes from benefiting from reservations. In fact, CPIM leaders E M S Namboodiripad and Pramode Dasgupta had worked closely with the Bihar leader at the time.

On the proposal to increase the number of seats, Karat said the Government formula was to raise the number by 54 per cent, which might happen over two years.

Karat said while the increase in seats could be in phases, the reservation for OBCs would be on the basis of 27 per cent of total seats.