Jammu, Aug 27: “The present dispensation has miserably failed to protect the rights of Other Backward Classes (OBC) as the members of this backward community are living under depressed and pitiable conditions in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President JKNC Jammu while addressing a day-long convention of the party’s OBC Cell here.
The convention was organised under the chairmanship of Abdul Gani Teli, Chairman JKNC (OBC Cell) in Jammu Province, the party said in a statement issued here.
At the outset of the meeting, Teli said, “There is no one in the administration to look into the burning issues of the downtrodden including OBCs and moreover they are being treated quite shabbily under the present regime.” He reiterated the demand of OBC Cell which includes implementation of 27 percent reservation as per the Mandal Commission, issuance of a one-time certificate to OBC community members, the establishment of separate Corporation for the welfare of OBC people and loans should be available at cheaper rates for the youth belonging to OBC community.
Addressing the party workers, Rattan Lal termed the issues and demands raised by Teli as genuine and justified to uplift the socio-economic status of the community. He came down heavily on the BJP government at the Centre, saying “it has brought nothing but miseries for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the OBC community”.
“BJP promised the moon but all the promises proved to be merely hollow slogans. There has been no development on the ground about which the government has been making tall claims. In fact, the people are decrying for basic amenities,” he said.
The senior NC leader added, “It is most unfortunate that the OBC people continue to be totally ignored for the last nine years of BJP rule and today there is a dire need to enhance the four percent reservation quota for the OBC community. The two percent reservation to OBC was given by the NC government and a further two percent reservation was sanctioned by the then Omar Abdullah government but not implemented by the previous BJP government in the state.”
The NC provincial president exhorted the party workers to gear up for the ensuing elections in J&K “to get rid of all the miseries thrust upon them by the BJP government at the Centre”.
