Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 1: The vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s OBC Morcha, Fayaz Ahmad, said today that the recently passed law reclassifying Economically Backward Classes (OECs) as other backward classes (OBCs) would put an end to decades of injustice towards the impoverished class.
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Addressing a press conference here, Ahmad said that the legislation, spearheaded by Home Minister Amit Shah, would usher in a new era of empowerment for a community denied education rights and employment opportunities for too long.
“The OBCs, unfairly labelled as Other Social Castes (OSCs), were stripped of essential rights and opportunities for the past seven decades. The treacherous nomenclature hindered their educational rights and excluded them from reservation policies,” he said.
He attributed this decision to the abrogation of Article 370, emphasising the government’s commitment to uplift disadvantaged groups. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the architect of this change. “The OBC community is thankful to Prime Minister Modi for fulfilling the promise of their upliftment,” he said.
He also credited the proactive approach of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, for swift implementation of the law within a one-day gap between passage and execution.
Ahmad acknowledged the State Advisory Council’s pivotal role in ensuring the reclassification translated into tangible benefits for OBCs.
He said one significant achievement of the legislation is the extension of reservations to OBCs in local panchayats. “Recognising the large OBC population in rural areas, the government aims to rectify historical neglect by ensuring their representation in elected bodies. This move is expected to break shackles restraining development initiatives within these communities, he said.
He said that the communities expressed gratitude for the newfound recognition and the promise of development and empowerment. “The legislation marks a crucial step towards inclusivity and justice, promising a brighter future for a community that has endured systemic discrimination for far too long,” he said.
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