Kulaste Accuses Opposition of Politicising Supreme Court's Sub-Classification Ruling

Former Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste accused the opposition of politicising the Supreme Court's ruling on sub-classification within Scheduled Castes. Kulaste stated that the Centre has clarified its stance against implementing the classification among SCs and STs. He criticized Congress and Mayawati for leveraging the issue for political gain.

Former Union minister and prominent tribal leader Faggan Singh Kulaste has accused the opposition of politicising the Supreme Court's ruling on sub-classification within Scheduled Castes. Kulaste, an MP from Mandla (ST) Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, stated that the Centre has already clarified its stance on the issue.

Kulaste revealed that he and 60-70 other MPs met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assured them that the 'creamy layer' provision would not be implemented among SCs and STs. The Union cabinet has decided against implementing the 'apex court's opinion,' Kulaste told reporters in Bhopal.

'Despite such clarity and the government's decision, people have called for a Bharat Bandh. They are playing politics. Congress and BSP chief Mayawati are exploiting this issue,' said Kulaste. He also recalled that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had protected the reservation policy.

Twenty-one organizations nationwide have called for a Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court's ruling on sub-classification. The court held that states could make sub-classifications based on 'quantifiable and demonstrable data' of backwardness for socially and educationally disadvantaged castes.

(With inputs from agencies.)