Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: Several OBC organisations have hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for taking significant steps to initiate the process for providing OBC reservation benefits to the community in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a joint press conference here, leaders from All J&K OBC Mahasabha, All India Backward Classes Federation J&K UT unit, and All J&K OBC Welfare Forum, along with Presidents of various castes and communities under the banner of OBC Adhikar Tiranga Yatra acknowledged PM Modi’s commitment to providing 27% OBC reservation in Government services, educational institutions, Urban Local Bodies, and the Panchayati Raj system.
The ongoing initiative involves changing the nomenclature from JK-UT Weak & Under Privileged Classes (Social Castes) to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and amending the Panchayati Raj System regarding OBC reservation.
The OBC organisations thanked LG Manoj Sinha for translating these commitments into practical measures, aligning with the Indian Constitution’s Article 243D-6 and 243T-6 and referencing the Supreme Court judgment dated May 10, 2022 (writ petition number 278 of 2022).
They expressed optimism that the Union Government would soon amend the Municipal Corporation/ Committees Act-2000 to reflect OBC reservation based on the OBC population in Jammu and Kashmir. They also urged for 27% reservation in J&K UT Government services and educational institutions.
According to the OBC bodies, the initiation of process for providing the reservation benefits to the community by the Modi Government and LG Manoj Sinha followed the unity of OBC organizations under the umbrella of OBC Adhikaar Tiranga Yatra.
They said, “Our organizations raised objections to the Chief Election Officer of JK UT and the Election Commission on September 8, 2023, leading to protests against the September 4, 2023, election notification for Municipal Corporations/ Municipal Committees/Town Area Committees and Panchayati Raj System.”
“Consequently, the Government suspended the elections until OBC reservation in the Municipal Act 2000 and Panchayati Raj Act is ensured,” they said.
The leaders further appealed to PM Narendra Modi and LG Manoj Sinha to implement all OBC reservation issues before the 2024 Parliament election.
Prominent figures at the press conference included Kasturi Lal Basotra, Chairman OBC Mahasabha; Faquir Chand Satia, President AIBCF J&K UT unit; Bansi Lal Choudhary, Convenor OBC Mahasabha; Abdul Latif Malik, Advocate High Court; Mohan Lal Pawar, General Secretary, OBC Mahasabha; Sain Dass, Senior Leader AIBCU; Kewal Fotra, General Secretary All J&K Sain Samaj, among others.
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