Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: National Students and Youth Front (NSYF), a wing of All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organizations J&K today took out a candle march from Bahu Plaza to Ambedkar Chowk at Jammu, to raise awareness and show dissent towards the inclusion of forward classes, Paharis in the ST and OSC categories.
The candle march was joined by people from all walks of life and culminated at Ambedkar Chowk where the candles were lit under the statue of Dr Ambedkar.
RK Kalsotra, patron NSYF and president of the Confederation, said that the move of the Central Government to include certain elite and forward classes in the ST, OSC categories will dilute the due representation that these categories deserve. Kalsotra pointed out that the inclusion of such classes is just a matter of vote bank politics and is a step in violation of the Constitution and the rights of equality enshrined on the downtrodden.
He further added that the EWS reservation introduced by the Government was meant to include such classes from the general category and hence, these classes should be given EWS status rather than ST, OSC status.
Kalsotra further highlighted that the Confederation will be holding a national level show down at New Delhi on 28th November wherein the main agenda will be to name the new Parliament House as Dr Ambedkar Parliament House. “The issue of forward classes in ST, OSC category will also be raised at the protest and will be made a national level issue,” he added.
Murtaza Kamaal (member NSYF) said that the dilution of the ST, OSC status by the Central Government is unconstitutional and is against the principles of equality.
Tarun Paroch (leader NSYF) added that the conscious move of inclusion of elite classes in ST, OSC status is a violation of the rights of those who deserve due representation.
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