New Delhi : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, the Constitutional Amendment Bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically weaker sections from upper castes does not contravene the basic structure of the Constitution.

In his Facebook post titled- Reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections, Mr Jaitley termed the move the single greatest recognition for the poor in the general category and the need to eliminate poverty.

He also accused the main opposition party Congress of only paying lip sympathy and grudgingly supporting the Constitution Amendment Bill, passed by Parliament.

Mr Jaitley noted that the original Constitution (unamended) in its Preamble mentions equality of opportunity and justice for all whether political, social or economic to be ensured by the state.

The Minister also highlighted other government initiatives like housing for every rural poor, universal health scheme- Ayushman Bharat, and interest subvention, for economic upliftment of the poor.

On relief measures for the middle class, Mr Jaitley said that in the last five years, not a single tax has been increased, GST has been brought down on most commodities, and income tax relief has been provided.