It’s not every day that we approve of the double standards of our political leaders. But when we heard about our quota evangelists — including heavyweights like HRD Minister Arjun Singh — not appointing people from the reserved categories when it came to key positions in their own personal staff, we put on our best ‘understanding’ face and said, ‘Come, come.’
Thanks to Delhi resident Devashish Bhattacharya, who had applied under the right to information act to know how much these ministers practised what they preached, we know that all seven of Mr Singh’s personal staff are from the general category. In a field where symbolism plays such an overarching role in the job, Mr Singh should have appointed at least some members from the reserved categories for the government job he is the boss of. The Prime Minister, not too reluctant on reservations himself, has no reserved members on his three-member personal staff team either. And, the PM chooses his staff according to his discretion. Which is brilliant — and we say this without a shred of irony.
As we have said many times over, clarity begins at home and the whole quota business actually brings about more social divisions than it removes. Don’t ask the quota-believing ministers. Just observe their astuteness.