Social Justice Minister Ramdas Athawale plans quota for Brahmins, Jats

Mumbai: On his first trip to Mumbai after being appointed the Social Justice and Welfare Minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet, Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale has said that he would be writing to Modi to implement reservations for Marathas, Jats and Brahmins.

“A number of demands have been raised for reservation from various corners of the country. I am sympathetic to all those demands. Marathas, Jats and economically weaker Brahmins too are demanding reservation in education, jobs and politics. I will write to Modiji in support of these demands and I am sure it will give positive results,” he told mediapersons in Mumbai.

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He said all those Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people who had converted to Buddhism must get all benefits prescribed under the law. The demand of Dhangars, seeking inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe quota, was also being considered by the government, he said.

Calling for strengthening the implementation of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Athawale criticised the authorities in Maharashtra for being too lenient in executing it.

He said that the new quotas will be implemented without harming the present structure.