Lucknow: After his party’s performance in Lok Sabha elections in UP, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, “Yes, I am going to Delhi. It is all a matter of numbers (govt formation). The public has rejected negative politics. We aimed to stop BJP. I thank the public for this and their cooperation. The votes were cast to save the Constitution, democracy and reservation, and we hope that by walking on the path of social justice we will be able to fulfil the dreams of Netaji and Samajwadis.”
Tag: Reservation
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Phase-3 Campaigning Ends; Fate Of Over 1300 Candidates From 93 Lok Sabha Seats To Be Sealed On May 7; Check Key Candidates |
Lok Sabha Chunav 2024: In the third and another crucial phase for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, a total of 93 seats are going to the polls. While a total of 94 seats was to go to the polls in the phase 3, voting was not needed for Surat as the BJP candidate got elected unopposed. However, the Betul seat of Madhya Pradesh is going to polls in the third phase after polling was earlier postponed due to death of a candidate. Also, the voting for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat was also postponed to May 26, thus, 93 seats are up for grab in this phase. The 93 seats are spread across 10 states and 1 union territory.
Key Poll Planks
In the third phase the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA bloc of Congress fiercely attacked each other making muslim reservations, constitution and sexual harassment charges against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna issues to woo the voters. While the Congress accused the BJP of favouring a sexual abuse offender and trying to change the constituion, the saffron party has slammed the Congress for providing religion-based reservation to Muslims from the quota of SC/ST/OBCs.
High-Stakes For BJP
The stakes are significantly high for the BJP in this phase because the party had in 2019 won majority of these seats including clean sweep in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. On the other hand, Congress is looking to make a big dent in these seats by promising several freebies and financial aids.
A total of 25 (out of 26) seats in Gujarat, 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, remaining 14 of the 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, eight in Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa are going to the polls in Phase 3 on May 7. The Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2 seats) will also go to polls in the third phase.
Phase-3 Key Candidates And Constituencies
Of the over 1300 candidates, the bigwigs include Union ministers Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna, Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar, Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot, Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad, SP Singh Baghel from Agra, Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha, Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh, Basavaraj Bommai from Haveri, Badruddin Ajmal from Dhubri, Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj, Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri, Ram Gopal Yadav’s son Akshaya Yadav from Firozabad, Aditya Yadav from Budaun, as well as Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar from Baramati.
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Maratha quota: Special session of Maharashtra Assembly to commence today, Maratha quota likely on agenda
The Maharashtra government will hold a special Vidhan Sabha session for one day on Tuesday to hold discussion on the Maratha reservation issue.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stressed on Friday that reservation to Marathas will be given according to the terms of the law after presenting the report in during the special assembly session called for February 20.
“The survey has been conducted on nearly 2-2.5 crore people… Keeping in mind that the OBC community is not left behind in the process, the government will present the report to the cabinet committee. On February 20, we have called a special session of the assembly, after which the Maratha reservation will be given according to the terms of the law…,” CM Shinde said.The decision to hold the session was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
“The cabinet meeting has given its nod to convene a one-day special session of the legislature on Tuesday, February 20, to discuss the various demands of the Maratha community,” a note issued by the Chief Minister’s office stated.
The decision to convene a special session was prompted by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is on a hunger strike at Antarwali Saarati village in Jalna district.After the Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting, Congress president Nana Patole said that the Maharashtra Assembly session would commence on Monday, adding that the meeting was being held to form a strategy for the session. “The Maharashtra Assembly session commences tomorrow. The system is that they should call the opposition for BAC and discuss the proceedings of the House. However, the BJP government in the state does not want to follow the constitutional process. So, we came together to form a strategy for the session,” Patole told ANI.
Meanwhile, the political scenario of Maharashtra is fluid as Sharad Pawar lost his party name and symbol.
Veteran politician Sharad Pawar said on Saturday the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the group led by his nephew Ajit Pawar as the ‘real’ Nationalist Congress Party was “not in accordance with law.”
Sharad Pawar moved the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the ECI to officially recognise the Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP and the use of party symbols.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that the interim order by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that allowed veteran leader Sharad Pawar to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Chandra Pawar’ would continue till further orders.
On February 6, the poll panel, while applying the test of majority in the legislative wing, ruled that Ajit Pawar’s faction was the ‘real’ NCP and permitted the faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol for the party.
In its order, the Election Commission noted that the total number of NCP MLAs in the Maharashtra State Assembly stood at 81, and out of this, Ajit Pawar submitted affidavits of 57 MLAs in his support, while Sharad Pawar had only 28 affidavits.
Hence, the poll panel concluded that the Ajit Pawar faction enjoyed the majority support of the legislators and could lay claim to being the NCP. (ANI)
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Yogi Adityanath welcomes Supreme Court’s order on UP civic body polls
Express News Service
LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Supreme Court order on Urban Local Body polls in the state saying his government will hold the elections within the time limit given by the apex court.
Adityanath also reiterated the state government’s commitment to implementing the OBC reservationin Urban Local Bodies on the basis of the report of the OBC commission set up by it till March 31.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister tweeted, “We welcome the Supreme Court’s order regarding civic polls in UP. We will cooperate in the conductance of Urban Local Body polls in the state while implementing the OBC quota within the time limit given by the apex court.”
The UP government had challenged the Allahabad High Court order blocking the OBC quota in civic polls and asking the state Election Commission to hold the polls before January 31.
After the HC order, the opposition, including SP and BSP, had targeted the state government accusing it of being anti-OBC. Following the apex court’s order on Wednesday, Samajwadi Party said the order had vindicated its stand over the issue.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had ordered that the state government notified the polls “immediately” as the term of several municipalities would end by January 31.
LUCKNOW: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Supreme Court order on Urban Local Body polls in the state saying his government will hold the elections within the time limit given by the apex court.
Adityanath also reiterated the state government’s commitment to implementing the OBC reservation
in Urban Local Bodies on the basis of the report of the OBC commission set up by it till March 31.The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister tweeted, “We welcome the Supreme Court’s order regarding civic polls in UP. We will cooperate in the conductance of Urban Local Body polls in the state while implementing the OBC quota within the time limit given by the apex court.”
The UP government had challenged the Allahabad High Court order blocking the OBC quota in civic polls and asking the state Election Commission to hold the polls before January 31.
After the HC order, the opposition, including SP and BSP, had targeted the state government accusing it of being anti-OBC. Following the apex court’s order on Wednesday, Samajwadi Party said the order had vindicated its stand over the issue.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had ordered that the state government notified the polls “immediately” as the term of several municipalities would end by January 31.
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UP government moves SC against HCs order to conduct local body polls without OBC quota
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has approached Supreme Court against Allahabad High Court’s order of directing state to conduct Urban Local Body Polls (ULB) without OBC reservation.
Allahabad HC’s December 27 order had come in batch of pleas that had challenged state government’s December 5 draft notification for providing proposed reservation for OBCs in civic elections. The pleas had also challenged state’s December 12 notification which provides for operation of bank accounts of Municipalities under joint signatures of Executive Officers and the Senior Most Officer in Uttar Pradesh Palika Centralized Service (Accounts Cadre).
A bench of Justices Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Saurabh Lavania while quashing December 5 and 12 notification ruled that the government could not notify OBC reservations for civic elections till fulfilment of three conditions laid down by the Supreme Court’s constitution bench in 2010. The HC had also ordered the state to “immediately” notify elections to the urban local bodies without OBC quotas. Additionally the bench directed the government to set up commission for to conducting an empirical study on the nature and backwardness to be able to have OBC quotas in the next election to urban local bodies.
ALSO READ | UP: Urban local body polls only after reservation to OBCs, says CM Yogi
“We have issued the direction to immediately notify the elections being guided by the provisions of Article 243-U of the Constitution of India which mandates that election to constitute a municipality shall be completed before expiry of its duration. We understand that collection and collation of materials by the dedicated Commission is a humongous and time taking task, however, formation of elected municipal bodies by (an) election cannot be delayed for the reason of constitutional mandate contained in Article 243-U of the Constitution of India. Thus to fortify the democratic character of governance of society, it is essential that the elections are held at the earliest which cannot wait,” the bench said.
UP government in plea before SC had argued that the HC erred in quashing draft notification since OBCs are constitutionally protected.
NEW DELHI: Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has approached Supreme Court against Allahabad High Court’s order of directing state to conduct Urban Local Body Polls (ULB) without OBC reservation.
Allahabad HC’s December 27 order had come in batch of pleas that had challenged state government’s December 5 draft notification for providing proposed reservation for OBCs in civic elections. The pleas had also challenged state’s December 12 notification which provides for operation of bank accounts of Municipalities under joint signatures of Executive Officers and the Senior Most Officer in Uttar Pradesh Palika Centralized Service (Accounts Cadre).
A bench of Justices Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Saurabh Lavania while quashing December 5 and 12 notification ruled that the government could not notify OBC reservations for civic elections till fulfilment of three conditions laid down by the Supreme Court’s constitution bench in 2010. The HC had also ordered the state to “immediately” notify elections to the urban local bodies without OBC quotas. Additionally the bench directed the government to set up commission for to conducting an empirical study on the nature and backwardness to be able to have OBC quotas in the next election to urban local bodies.
ALSO READ | UP: Urban local body polls only after reservation to OBCs, says CM Yogi
“We have issued the direction to immediately notify the elections being guided by the provisions of Article 243-U of the Constitution of India which mandates that election to constitute a municipality shall be completed before expiry of its duration. We understand that collection and collation of materials by the dedicated Commission is a humongous and time taking task, however, formation of elected municipal bodies by (an) election cannot be delayed for the reason of constitutional mandate contained in Article 243-U of the Constitution of India. Thus to fortify the democratic character of governance of society, it is essential that the elections are held at the earliest which cannot wait,” the bench said.
UP government in plea before SC had argued that the HC erred in quashing draft notification since OBCs are constitutionally protected.
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Plea in Supreme Court challenges Centre’s new panel to examine SC status for Dalit converts
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the centre’s decision to appoint a three-member commission, headed by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan which has been tasked to consider the possibility of granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to “new persons who have historically belonged to the Scheduled Castes’’ but have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
Justice KG Balakrishna was appointed by the centre on October 7, 2022, during the pendency of a plea in SC seeking scheduled caste status for Dalit Christian and Muslim converts. Currently, as per the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 only Dalits of Hindus, Sikh and Buddhist faith can be categorised as SCs.
The pleas that are currently pending before SC argue that the exclusion of Christian and Muslim Dalits from the list of Scheduled Caste was discriminatory. Recently, the centre in the pleas had told SC that the government had taken a decision to not accept Justice Mishra’s report. Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission’s 2007 report for Religious and Linguistic Minorities had recommended permitting Dalits who converted to Islam and Christianity to avail of SC status.
The plea challenging centre’s recent decision has been filed by practising advocate, social activist and secretary of Pragat Padhividhar Sanghatna (PPS), a social and educational Trust who said he was a Christian of Scheduled Caste origin, belonging to the Mahar community.
It has been argued in the plea Union government has over the years formed multiple Commissions, dating back to the first Backward Classes Commission (1955), on this subject that have already pronounced the need for according to SC status to Dalits who have converted to Islam or Christianity.
“The apprehension of the petitioner is that if the present commission is allowed, the hearing on the main petition may be further delayed causing irreparable damage to the Christians of Scheduled caste origin, who are denied this SC privileges for the last 72 years. It is also affecting the fundamental rights of the affected community, giving speedy justice is mandatory as per Article 21,” the plea states.
NEW DELHI: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the centre’s decision to appoint a three-member commission, headed by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan which has been tasked to consider the possibility of granting Scheduled Caste (SC) status to “new persons who have historically belonged to the Scheduled Castes’’ but have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
Justice KG Balakrishna was appointed by the centre on October 7, 2022, during the pendency of a plea in SC seeking scheduled caste status for Dalit Christian and Muslim converts. Currently, as per the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 only Dalits of Hindus, Sikh and Buddhist faith can be categorised as SCs.
The pleas that are currently pending before SC argue that the exclusion of Christian and Muslim Dalits from the list of Scheduled Caste was discriminatory. Recently, the centre in the pleas had told SC that the government had taken a decision to not accept Justice Mishra’s report. Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission’s 2007 report for Religious and Linguistic Minorities had recommended permitting Dalits who converted to Islam and Christianity to avail of SC status.
The plea challenging centre’s recent decision has been filed by practising advocate, social activist and secretary of Pragat Padhividhar Sanghatna (PPS), a social and educational Trust who said he was a Christian of Scheduled Caste origin, belonging to the Mahar community.
It has been argued in the plea Union government has over the years formed multiple Commissions, dating back to the first Backward Classes Commission (1955), on this subject that have already pronounced the need for according to SC status to Dalits who have converted to Islam or Christianity.
“The apprehension of the petitioner is that if the present commission is allowed, the hearing on the main petition may be further delayed causing irreparable damage to the Christians of Scheduled caste origin, who are denied this SC privileges for the last 72 years. It is also affecting the fundamental rights of the affected community, giving speedy justice is mandatory as per Article 21,” the plea states.
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Opposition parties fume as Assam govt ‘keeps in abeyance’ EWS job quota
By Express News Service
GUWAHATI: The Assam government’s decision to “keep in abeyance” the 10% quota in state government jobs for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category has met with opposition.
An “office memorandum” said, “the Governor of Assam is pleased to keep the matter of reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in direct recruitment in posts and services under Government of Assam in abeyance until further order.”
This, however, shall not be applicable in those cases in which the vacancies have already been assessed and advertised. Also, the reservation for the EWS category will continue for admission into educational institutions.
In July this year, the state cabinet had decided to extend the scope of the EWS quota. The eligibility criteria as regards land – 15 bighas in rural areas and one bigha in urban areas – was extended to 30 and two bighas respectively. The idea was to cover more people.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutional validity of a 10% reservation for the “poorest of poor” among the forward castes.
The opposition parties are now livid over the Assam government’s latest decision. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) viewed it as an affront to the apex court’s ruling. “We oppose the government’s decision to keep in abeyance the 10% job quota for the EWS category,” TMC’s Assam president Ripun Bora said.
He said the state’s economic condition was precarious as the government spent extravagantly on various beneficiary schemes to get votes. “No matter how much Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma may try, he will not be able to hide the truth. People are no fools,” Bora said.
The Congress too blamed the beneficiary schemes for it. Another opposition party, All India United Democratic Front, viewed the decision as a blow to people belonging to the EWS category.
Assam was among 12 states and Union Territories which implemented 10% reservation of jobs for the EWS.
GUWAHATI: The Assam government’s decision to “keep in abeyance” the 10% quota in state government jobs for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category has met with opposition.
An “office memorandum” said, “the Governor of Assam is pleased to keep the matter of reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in direct recruitment in posts and services under Government of Assam in abeyance until further order.”
This, however, shall not be applicable in those cases in which the vacancies have already been assessed and advertised. Also, the reservation for the EWS category will continue for admission into educational institutions.
In July this year, the state cabinet had decided to extend the scope of the EWS quota. The eligibility criteria as regards land – 15 bighas in rural areas and one bigha in urban areas – was extended to 30 and two bighas respectively. The idea was to cover more people.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutional validity of a 10% reservation for the “poorest of poor” among the forward castes.
The opposition parties are now livid over the Assam government’s latest decision. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) viewed it as an affront to the apex court’s ruling. “We oppose the government’s decision to keep in abeyance the 10% job quota for the EWS category,” TMC’s Assam president Ripun Bora said.
He said the state’s economic condition was precarious as the government spent extravagantly on various beneficiary schemes to get votes. “No matter how much Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma may try, he will not be able to hide the truth. People are no fools,” Bora said.
The Congress too blamed the beneficiary schemes for it. Another opposition party, All India United Democratic Front, viewed the decision as a blow to people belonging to the EWS category.
Assam was among 12 states and Union Territories which implemented 10% reservation of jobs for the EWS.
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DMK files review plea on EWS ruling, claims it violates equality
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its November 7 verdict upholding the 10% quota granted to persons belong to economically weaker sections (EWS) in education and jobs. The quota was introduced by way of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. A five-judge SC bench had upheld the amendment by a 3:2 majority.
Contending the verdict “legitimises discrimination”, the plea says all five judges held the amendment cannot be said to breach the basic structure of the Constitution, thereby overruling the landmark Indra Sawhney verdict.
“…this is error apparent on the face of the record since it directly overrules the judgment passed by the nine-judge constitution bench in Indra Sawhney versus Union of India 1992, which has authoritatively pronounced that reservations cannot be on the basis of the economic criteria and such interpretation was on the basis of Articles 14,15(1) and 16(1), not Articles 15(4) and 16(4) alone,” the plea says.
“… after going in depth into how poverty prevents access to education and employment, and the importance of alleviating the same — the majority judges have not given any justification for excluding ST, SC & OBCs from the EWS reservation other than to say that they have already been given reservations…”
“Impugned judgment approves exclusion and discrimination as it permits poor from ST, SC & OBC to be excluded from 10% reservation, when they too are economically backward and therefore it violates equality code,” it argues.
The plea also contends that the impugned judgment lays down a law that Parliament can bring any type of reservations for any category by constitutional amendment and there shall be no bar in the constitution against doing so.
“The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 has made a large section of advanced classes viz upper caste of population eligible for easy, exclusive, luxurious reservations. The Constitution has given them a mask to hide behind the misleading term “economically weaker sections”. It’s a fact that they have not suffered social stigma nor discrimination from the society or kept away from jobs or from the mainstream. The constitutional amendment does not define the term “economically weaker sections”.
The word “economically” appearing in the 103rd Constitutional Amendment cannot be disjunctively read in isolation, without the word “weaker sections” to exclude reservations for SC/ST/OBCs (which is in conflict with Article 46) who are constitutionally recognised weaker sections,” the plea states. Contending that the verdict affects a population of 133 crore, the DMK has sought for an open court hearing.
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its November 7 verdict upholding the 10% quota granted to persons belong to economically weaker sections (EWS) in education and jobs. The quota was introduced by way of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. A five-judge SC bench had upheld the amendment by a 3:2 majority.
Contending the verdict “legitimises discrimination”, the plea says all five judges held the amendment cannot be said to breach the basic structure of the Constitution, thereby overruling the landmark Indra Sawhney verdict.
“…this is error apparent on the face of the record since it directly overrules the judgment passed by the nine-judge constitution bench in Indra Sawhney versus Union of India 1992, which has authoritatively pronounced that reservations cannot be on the basis of the economic criteria and such interpretation was on the basis of Articles 14,15(1) and 16(1), not Articles 15(4) and 16(4) alone,” the plea says.
“… after going in depth into how poverty prevents access to education and employment, and the importance of alleviating the same — the majority judges have not given any justification for excluding ST, SC & OBCs from the EWS reservation other than to say that they have already been given reservations…”
“Impugned judgment approves exclusion and discrimination as it permits poor from ST, SC & OBC to be excluded from 10% reservation, when they too are economically backward and therefore it violates equality code,” it argues.
The plea also contends that the impugned judgment lays down a law that Parliament can bring any type of reservations for any category by constitutional amendment and there shall be no bar in the constitution against doing so.
“The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 has made a large section of advanced classes viz upper caste of population eligible for easy, exclusive, luxurious reservations. The Constitution has given them a mask to hide behind the misleading term “economically weaker sections”. It’s a fact that they have not suffered social stigma nor discrimination from the society or kept away from jobs or from the mainstream. The constitutional amendment does not define the term “economically weaker sections”.
The word “economically” appearing in the 103rd Constitutional Amendment cannot be disjunctively read in isolation, without the word “weaker sections” to exclude reservations for SC/ST/OBCs (which is in conflict with Article 46) who are constitutionally recognised weaker sections,” the plea states. Contending that the verdict affects a population of 133 crore, the DMK has sought for an open court hearing.
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Paharis to get reservation, but no cut in quota of Gujjars, Bakerwals: Manoj Sinha
Express News Service
SRINAGAR: Amid the ongoing 500-km-long foot march by Gujjar and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir to oppose inclusion of Paharis or other elite castes in the ST reservation status, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said Pahari community would get reservation but there would be no cut or decrease in quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
“Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent address to public rallies in Rajouri andBaramulla had made it clear that Paharis will get reservation in ST category soon but there will be no cut in reservation quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals,” Lt Governor Sinha said, while addressing a Janjatiya Samagam on the launch of week-long festivities on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in Jammu on Tuesday.
He said, “Paharis will also get the reservation but there would be no tampering with the reservation of Gujjar and Bakerwal community.”
“I urge those undertaking Padyatra (foot march) to return home. Some people with vested interest are spreading rumours on reservation. They are the same people who do not want peace and progress in the region,” said Sinha.
The Gujjar and Bakerwal are on a 500-km-long foot march called ‘Tribals Bachao March’ in J&K for protection of their identity and rights under the Scheduled Tribe status and oppose inclusion of Pahari community or any other elite castes in the ST status. The Save Tribals march is being carried out under the banner of recently formed united front Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Action Committee (GBJAC). The foot march started from the border district of Kupwara in Kashmir on November 4. It will travel through all 20 districts of J&K and culminate in Kathua district of Jammu region.
The Gujjar and Bakerwal community enjoys 10% reservation in education and government employment in J&K. Besides, nine Assembly seats in J&K have also been reserved for the community by the Delimitation Commission. “Through this foot march, we want to protect our identity and rights under the ST status. We are opposing the granting of ST status to the Pahari community or any upper caste of J&K,” said Gujjar activist Guftar Ahmad.
He said the Pahari community is not eligible for ST status as the status is not being granted on the basis of language. The Gujjar and Bakerwal community feels that declaring Paharis and other upper caste communities as STs would be injustice with the tribal population and it will deprive them of their rights in education and jobs.
SRINAGAR: Amid the ongoing 500-km-long foot march by Gujjar and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir to oppose inclusion of Paharis or other elite castes in the ST reservation status, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said Pahari community would get reservation but there would be no cut or decrease in quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
“Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent address to public rallies in Rajouri andBaramulla had made it clear that Paharis will get reservation in ST category soon but there will be no cut in reservation quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals,” Lt Governor Sinha said, while addressing a Janjatiya Samagam on the launch of week-long festivities on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in Jammu on Tuesday.
He said, “Paharis will also get the reservation but there would be no tampering with the reservation of Gujjar and Bakerwal community.”
“I urge those undertaking Padyatra (foot march) to return home. Some people with vested interest are spreading rumours on reservation. They are the same people who do not want peace and progress in the region,” said Sinha.
The Gujjar and Bakerwal are on a 500-km-long foot march called ‘Tribals Bachao March’ in J&K for protection of their identity and rights under the Scheduled Tribe status and oppose inclusion of Pahari community or any other elite castes in the ST status. The Save Tribals march is being carried out under the banner of recently formed united front Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Action Committee (GBJAC). The foot march started from the border district of Kupwara in Kashmir on November 4. It will travel through all 20 districts of J&K and culminate in Kathua district of Jammu region.
The Gujjar and Bakerwal community enjoys 10% reservation in education and government employment in J&K. Besides, nine Assembly seats in J&K have also been reserved for the community by the Delimitation Commission. “Through this foot march, we want to protect our identity and rights under the ST status. We are opposing the granting of ST status to the Pahari community or any upper caste of J&K,” said Gujjar activist Guftar Ahmad.
He said the Pahari community is not eligible for ST status as the status is not being granted on the basis of language. The Gujjar and Bakerwal community feels that declaring Paharis and other upper caste communities as STs would be injustice with the tribal population and it will deprive them of their rights in education and jobs.
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SC verdict on EWS is setback to century-long social justice struggle: TN CM Stalin
The Supreme Court had by a majority view of 3:2, upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitution amendment providing 10 per cent reservation for the EWS.