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Indian Justice Party (IJP) has demanded the immediate resignation of Andre Beteille, the Chairman of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR) from the Knowledge Commission. In a press release issued in New Delhi on 26 May 2006, IJP Chairman Udit Raj said, “Andre Beteille, along with Pratab Bhanu Mehta, resigned from the Knowledge Commission because they differed from the government stand. Since Andre Beteille is in contradiction with the government policies, he should also resign from the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research.” Udit Raj said they were arguing for affirmative action as prevalent in the United States. “Perhaps they are not aware of the ethics that the Americans practise. Affirmative Action is voluntary. Yet it has been implemented very honestly by companies, industries and universities in the Untied States. All this shows love and affection towards the Blacks. When in 1981, editors of American newspapers came to know that the Blacks were represented in the media by less than two per cent, they decided to train and recruit them. And in less than a decade, Blacks representation in the media reached about 9 per cent.” Udit Raj wondered if there was such honesty on the part of the ruling castes. The striking
doctors and their supporters never agitated against NRI quota and admission in lieu of donation. “Despite Constitutional provisions and government instructions, reservation is very often not implemented because of a prejudiced mindset. Why can't they learn from the examples shown by states like Tamil Nadu? In Tamil Nadu, in spite of the reservation being put at 69 per cent, human health index is better than that of other states. What is the use of merits if after exploiting premier institutions like AIIMS and IITs, these so-called meritorious fellows go off to foreign countries for the sake of jobs and their own self-interests.” Citing the example of Tamil Nadu, Udit Raj said, “Due to the high percentage of reservation in Tamil Nadu, Dalits and OBC doctors remain in their native place to serve the local people. In addition, as merit is being defined, it has its origin in the colonial times and it does not include hard work, honesty and patriotism. English has made them meritorious and most of the backward communities, including Dalits do not have access to public schools.” He said, “These members might have knowledge of English but that does not mean that they know the village society and discrimination rampant over there. If Andre Beteille is a man of principle, he should resign from the chairmanship of ICSSR. That alone will bring him real credibility.”
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