Reservation: Sitaram Yechury's Column in HT on 18/05

In his article LEFT HAND DRIVE - Brand equity : Reservations are a part of affirmative action. In this lies India’s future" Sitaram Yechury says

That the same sections today oppose reservations in education speaks volumes
of their inherent upper-caste bias. This is further attested by the fact
that currently, in an overwhelmingly large number of private educational
institutions, there exists the system of admission by paying capitation fee.
What else is this but reservation for the rich.
The only ‘merit’ required in this scheme is to have enough money to, literally, buy
admission. In some cases (quite large in number), private institutions offer
seats to NRIs through what is virtually an auction process. The highest
bidder wins. The complete absence of any consideration of merit in these
cases is never questioned. Merit, however, becomes an issue when it comes to
providing access to those who have been denied education for centuries.

The point made here is that the rich always try to buy their way out, whereas the poor are left to fend for themselves. And in the education sector this disparity shows more than anywhere else.

I would like to use this analogy in the sector where Mr. Yechury earns his livelihood. Politics. Elections. We all know the kind of muscle power and money used during election time. Parties form coalitions, buying out elected representatives. By his own admission, this should be stopped too.

Also, the cabinet should comprise of ministers in the same ratio, and so should state cabinets. After all, it is all but fair that due representation be given to people of the so called opressed classes, and what better way than to provide them the power to run the government machinery and carve a government of the people, by the people and for the people, right Mr Yechury?

It is amazing that the people who are advocating reservations this time in IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and other prestigious colleges are not crying hoarse over the same amount of reservations in administrative services, IAS, PCS, IRS etc. Why not, does it hurt?

It is tragic that time and again, the poor are put synonymous with the backward and schedules classes, and it is assumed that the so called high class is made up of the rich and the super rich. Petty politicians will not shy away from dividing the youth of the nation to serve their own vested interests and vote banks.