IBNLive Chat: OBC quota, is this the end of merit?

HARD TALK: CNN-IBN's National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar discusses issues on quota.

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Bharath Kumar: The way this question is framed also reflects some sort of bias that exists in our country. Is it the case that all upper castes, Brahmins in particular, have monopoly over intellect and wisdom when most of them serve their white masters as inferior beings staying abroad? Even if there is a gestation period for the talents to flourish for these OBC students, it is worth waiting as hardly 15% of the population enters the corridors of higher education! Is it not a crime not to allow majority of the population to pursue higher studies in the name of 'quality'? Myself an upper caste, feel that quality = Money+ social (cultural) standing + opportunities (of course, qualities like hard work and sincerity are granted, anyway our rural population toils hard than us sitting in our ivory towers) When the creamy layer is excluded I really do not see any point in opposing this in the quota or quality.

Diptosh Majumdar: That is what I have been arguing Bharath but don't you think a country which has 49.5 per cent reservation doesn't really encourage merit. I want everything done for the backwards... I know the entire tale of deprivation for centuries....but then what are we saying in the 21st century that affirmative action is everything....you have to do penance for your past sins but that doesn't mean you kill merit........ no unfair move can right all the unfairness of the past.

Giridhar: Why does the SC still accept the caste based reservations. Cant it negate based on the PIL's filed? and make it valid only based on economy based?

Diptosh Majumdar: If you travel to the Indian countryside, you will still find caste is in our blood and I can guarantee without hurting anybody's sentiments that all of us on this chat are upper caste... only because most of us are upper caste that we have access to the internet and to chat sites

Gopalakrishnan: What’s the use of young ministers in the cabinet ?? Decision makers of the country, which has largest number of youngsters, are sick old people. Probably, the best idea is that every MPs,Politicians and Judges should be asked to clear IITs and IIMs entrance examination for their job.Do you think that this is reason why IITians and IIMians move out of India after their higher education ?

Diptosh Majumdar: To some extent I agree but don't you think that we need to pause and think of what opportunities the deprived are getting... reservation is not