Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, July 14: President J&K Jatt Sabha and former minister, Manjit Singh has demanded political reservation for the Jatt community in Jammu and Kashmir to fulfill their political aspirations.
In a statement issued today, the former Minister said, “We welcome the recommendation of the Backward Classes Commission which has recommended OBC status to the Jatt Community.”
“We commend the recommendation as the Commission has realized the social, economic and educational backwardness of the Jatt Community. For the last seven decades, the Jatts have faced ignorance and negligence from the traditional political parties.”
He said that the Jatts were exploited for the vote bank, but their demands were not accepted by then Govts for the last seven decades.
However, Jatts remained politically marginalized even as they have a huge chunk of the population. They were displaced three times i.e., 1947, 1965 and 1971 and they had to re-settle again, he added.
Keeping in view the aspiration of Jatts, he said that the political reservation should be granted to the Jatts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, he also demanded 27 % reservation for OBCs of J&K. He reminded that the J&K Jatt Sabha had met the Commission members and informed them about their political backwardness in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the Commission was informed about the concerns of the Jatts regarding no political representation.
“The Jatt population is scattered in various districts and hence, they are not in a position to elect their representatives. However, their political aspirations were never fulfilled by the traditional political parties compromised,” he said.
Citing reasons, he also appealed that the Commission nominate Jatts as the representative in the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure their aspirations are fulfilled and their desires are not compromised.
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