Hardik Patel's quota protest finds echo in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Encouraged by the response to the quota stir being spearheaded by Hardik Patel in Gujarat, a group of representatives of seven upper caste communities in Andhra Pradesh has vowed to launch an agitation demanding reforms in the present reservation policy.
"The quota system should not be based on caste or religion but should be purely based on economic criteria," said K Sankara Sarma, chief adviser to the All India Brahmin Federation. Sarma is also the convenor of the newly formed outfit "Agra Kulaala Vedika" (A forum of upper castes), with representatives from Brahmins, Khatriyas, Vysya, Kammas, Reddys, Velamas and Kapu communities.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the new organisation has decided to fight against the present system of caste-based reservations in the country. It organised a round table, with representatives from these seven communities, in the coastal Andhra city of Vijayawada to discuss the adverse impact of the present quota policy on the upper castes.
"We are not demanding abolition of the reservation system. We are saying that it should not depend on caste and religion," Sarma said, adding that the poorest of the poor among the other backward classes (OBCs) were being denied the opportunities in the present reservation system.
"The affluent among the OBCs are exploiting the system and cornering all the benefits mandated by the government," he said.
The Committee demanded that the Centre should constitute a commission headed by a judge of the Supreme Court to study the socio-economic status of the upper castes and the need to provide reservations to all sections of society on economic criteria.
The report of the commission should be put up for public debate and then a legislation should be enacted or if necessary the Constitution be amended, it said.
"The successive governments kept on extending the reservation facility to the SCs and STs though B R Ambedkar had wanted the system to be in force for 10 years so that they could overcome the social and economic backwardness they were in at that time. There has got to be an end to this. The reservations cannot go on for ever even as the talented youths from upper castes are suffering on account of lack of level playing field," Sarma said.
Meanwhile in Ahmedabad, after disassociating himself from Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) last month owing to differences, Patel leader Lalji Patel joined hands with PAAS head Hardik Patel.
Lalji Patel heads the Sardar Patel Group (SPG) had disassociated himself from the Hardik Patel-led PAAS after the mega Patel rally on August 25.
After the rally, Lalji announced a parallel agitation to press for the demand to include Patel under OBC quota.