Delhi BJP unit not happy with quota in Delhi University

New Delhi: After a resolution seeking 85 per cent reservation was declared for students from the city for undergraduate courses in Delhi University (DU), the Delhi BJP was left embarrassed after Union minister Vijay Goel publicly expressed his happiness over the AAP government’s move for the reservation.

“It is a personal victory for me. I had been demanding for reservation in DU and had conducted several meetings, dharnas and interactions with young students over the last 5 years,” Mr Goel was quoted saying.

The minister had met Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia, HRD minister and the vice-chancellor last year with a memorandum demanding the reservation for Delhi students.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, on the other hand, has already opposed the reservation on technical grounds as well as the party’s policy.

Recently, BJP Lok Sabha member Pravesh Verma and party MLA M.S. Sirsa had met lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal, demanding the reservation for local students in DU.

Party insiders said the BJP is unhappy with Mr Verma and Mr Sirsa over the issue. “Mr Tiwari was also discussing the reservation issue with the party’s central leadership and other senior party functionaries,” they said.

Sources in the party said reserving 85 per cent of seats for Delhiites is not in favour among large number of students coming in from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The party feels that the move could reduce its Poorvanchali votebank and send across a wrong message to the 40 lakh Poorvachanchali in the city who voted for the party in the recent civic polls.

“The demand for reservation is unjust. DU is a Central university and introducing reservation on the basis of region would tinker with its original character,” said Mr Tiwari.