📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Politics
Dalit leader Ramdas Athawale says ending casteism would make him give up reservations
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 03:04 PM
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Ramdas Athawale told The Economic Times that if Indian society could eradicate caste discrimination, he would be willing to abandon the reservation system.
Ramdas Athawale, a veteran Dalit politician and Union minister, said in an interview with The Economic Times that the ultimate goal should be the eradication of casteism. He added that if the country succeeds in eliminating caste-based discrimination, he would be ready to relinquish the reservation policy that benefits historically disadvantaged groups.
Athawale emphasized that reservations were a temporary measure meant to address historic injustices, but they should not become a permanent fixture if social equality is achieved. He urged political parties and civil society to focus on creating a merit‑based system that does not rely on caste identity.
The statement comes amid ongoing debates over the relevance and scope of reservations in education and public employment, with some states proposing reforms while others defend the status quo. Athawale's remarks highlight the tension between preserving affirmative action and aspiring to a caste‑free society.
While he did not specify a timeline, Athawale indicated that any move to phase out reservations would require broad consensus and concrete evidence of reduced caste bias across the nation.
Athawale emphasized that reservations were a temporary measure meant to address historic injustices, but they should not become a permanent fixture if social equality is achieved. He urged political parties and civil society to focus on creating a merit‑based system that does not rely on caste identity.
The statement comes amid ongoing debates over the relevance and scope of reservations in education and public employment, with some states proposing reforms while others defend the status quo. Athawale's remarks highlight the tension between preserving affirmative action and aspiring to a caste‑free society.
While he did not specify a timeline, Athawale indicated that any move to phase out reservations would require broad consensus and concrete evidence of reduced caste bias across the nation.