Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 3: General Category People’s Forum Jammu (GCPFJ), in its meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Raj Kumar Banathia, Chairman of the Forum, has strongly condemned increased reservation above 50 percent.
While addressing the meeting, Prof Yash Paul Sanson, president of the Forum, stressed upon the Government to address the feelings of discontent and demoralization of people and take effective steps for the upliftment of the poor, needy and deserving people and declare ‘Poor’ a caste. “Necessary legal and constitutional steps be taken to fulfill the needs, demands and aspirations of ‘Poor Caste’,” he added and demanded equality and equal opportunities to all citizens of India.
Som Nath Sharma, General Secretary, demanded delimitation of J&K State Assembly constituencies based on the criteria laid down by the ‘People’s Representative Act’ and increase Assembly segments of Jammu Province. He also demanded more stringent legal steps to eradicate rampant corruption and nepotism for the benefits of the ‘poor – caste’ who have been living in abject poverty. He also demanded 50 percent cut in electric and water bills as people have been facing burden of heavy taxes and Government charges, which have increased their agony.
V K Sharma, Vice-President of the Forum, said that the time has come for the political parties to explain in the court of people, as to why they failed to provide equality and equal opportunities to people and also violated articles 14, 15 and 16 by amending and destroying original spirit of these articles.
Deepak Khajuria forcefully demanded enhancement in Medical allowance of employees and pensioners. He also added that all pensioners be exempted from income – tax as their pension is a sum of money paid by the Government to a pensioner who is not in a position to work anymore because of old age and illness.
During the meeting, it was unanimously decided to extend support to ‘Bharat Bandh’ on August 9 against caste- based reservation and discrimination, call for which has been given by Bharat Lok Sevak Party (BLSP), known as Aarakshan Virodhi Party – New Delhi.
Jagish Dogra, Bhushan Pargal, Vivek Kumar also spoke in the meeting, which was attended by a large number of activists of the Forum.
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