‘Reservation must stay until I get a Brahmin daughter-in-law’:IAS officer’s comment at Bhopal Ajax meet triggers outrage; employee union calls it insult to ‘savarnas’

After a controversial statement by AJAKS provincial president Santosh Verma, a commotion erupted. At Sunday’s provincial convention, Verma, a senior IAS officer, said, Reservation should continue until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or a relationship is formed with her. The protest intensified after the video of his statement surfaced. Engineer Sudhir Nayak, president of the Ministry Service Officers-Employees Association, called the statement ‘highly objectionable and an insult to the upper caste community’ and demanded action against Santosh Verma under IAS conduct rules. Statement given at convention day earlier
On November 23, AJAKS’s provincial convention was held at Ambedkar Maidan, Second Stop, Tulsingar. Santosh Verma made this remark at the same event, the video of which has now surfaced. Nayak said that a daughter is not an object to be donated. Marriage is a personal decision, and linking it to reservation is inappropriate. Marriage has no relation to reservation
Nayak said that a large number of inter-caste and reserved-unreserved class marriages are taking place in society. He gave examples, stating that Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar married Savita Ambedkar, and Ram Vilas Paswan married Reena Sharma. Nayak says, Such statements are being made when strong arguments in favor of reservation are falling short. President cannot represent the organisation
Nayak said that AJAX is an employee organisation, where service matters should be discussed. Such statements by an officer holding a senior position deepen the divide between the two classes. Such a person should not be the provincial president. He said that the members of the organisation should also consider this.