Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati condemned the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for reservations as divisive.
On Saturday, she affirmed that her party, which aims to unify historically persecuted castes, would not compromise on the issue.
Mayawati, a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, also criticised the handling of the matter by the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu in light of the Supreme Court's ruling on August 1.
"The classification of SCs/STs and the creamy layer is divisive for these communities. The BSP is committed to uniting these people who have suffered caste-based persecution for centuries and creating a 'Bahujan Samaj'. Therefore, no compromise is possible," Mayawati stated in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter).
She denounced the actions of various state governments regarding this issue. "The politics of dividing SCs and STs by the governments of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, even before the Supreme Court's decision, is unacceptable. The Congress governments' stance, in particular, is highly condemnable," she said.
Mayawati also criticised party members who supported the classification policies. "Those in the BSP who back the classification of SCs/STs and the creamy layer, akin to the Congress, lack Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's visionary approach and have no place in the BSP. Prioritising one individual's interests over the Bahujan Samaj is unacceptable," she added.
In her final post, she suggested that members with opposing views should leave the party. "If individuals with such a mindset leave or are separated from the BSP, it will benefit both the party and the movement. The Congress-INDIA alliance's divide-and-rule strategy will not succeed under this guise. People must stay vigilant," Mayawati said.
The Supreme Court's August 1 ruling determined that states could make sub-classifications within SCs, who form a socially diverse group, to provide reservations for those castes that are more backward. However, the court clarified that such sub-classifications must be based on "quantifiable and demonstrable data" rather than "whims" or "political expediency."
A seven-judge constitution bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, overturned the 2004 EV Chinnaiah vs State of Andhra Pradesh verdict, which had previously ruled against sub-classification of SCs as they were considered a homogeneous class.
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