Bhagwat invokes Ambedkar, wants quota system to continue

Making a complete u-turn from his previous statement that the quota system needed a review, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has said reservation should continue in the country as long as there was social discrimination. “Reservation in the country should continue as long as social discrimination prevails in the Indian society,” Bhagwat said while delivering a lecture on ‘social assimilation’ on Wednesday.

Bhagwat’s earlier remarks on seeking review of the reservation policy just before the Bihar Assembly polls had stirred a controversy, with many seeing it as one of the main reasons for BJP’s debacle in the state elections.

On ‘social assimilation’, the RSS chief said the beginning should be from self and extended to the immediate family, extended family and the society. “This should be done by respecting the diversity in the society, but following the values and philosophy behind the spirit of Hinduism,” he said.

Elaborating the concept of ‘social harmony and integrity’, Bhagwat said, “Equality has been the essence at the origin of every sect, which was later divided into castes and sects by us.”

He also spoke about the thoughts of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on social discrimination and equality and appealed to the people to study it in depth and understand his teachings.