Mumbai, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said caste-based reservation should continue as long as social inequality and discrimination persist, asserting that the issue must be viewed through the vision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar rather than political considerations.
Bhagwat made the remarks during an interactive session with more than 2,000 members of Generation Z and Generation Alpha at an event organised to mark the 15th anniversary of the India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN).
Responding to a question on whether the time had come to reduce reservation in education and public employment, Bhagwat refrained from giving a direct yes-or-no answer. Instead, he stressed that reservation was introduced to address social inequality.
“Reservation exists because of social factors. As long as social inequality remains, reservation must continue,” he said.
At the same time, Bhagwat appealed to economically and socially advanced individuals within reserved categories to voluntarily step aside so that the benefits could reach those who remain disadvantaged.
He said there was a growing awareness among beneficiaries about ensuring equitable distribution of reservation benefits, referring to recent observations by the Supreme Court on sub-classification within reserved categories.
The RSS chief also criticised the politicisation of reservation, saying the system was originally conceived as an instrument for achieving social harmony rather than political gain.
“The concept itself is not wrong, but those holding the sword are wielding it in the wrong direction,” he remarked, adding that political exploitation of the issue has led to unnecessary social divisions.
Bhagwat expressed hope that effective implementation of welfare measures and genuine social upliftment would eventually reduce the need for reservation.
During the interaction, he also spoke about the recent student protests over issues such as the alleged NEET paper leak, reiterating that young people expressing dissent or participating in protests should not be labelled “anti-national.”
He emphasised the importance of dialogue in a democracy and said the concerns of the younger generation deserve to be heard.
On the broader debate over affirmative action, Bhagwat maintained that reservation remains an important mechanism for promoting social equality and unity, but said its objectives are often undermined by political interests.
“If reservation is implemented honestly and its intended goals are achieved, the need for it may diminish over time. Unfortunately, politics has complicated the issue and created bitterness in society,” he said.
FOLLOW NOW
