Excelsior Correspondent
BHADARWAH, Nov 14: Alleging discrimination many people from the Schedule Caste (SC) category here today staged a protest demonstration against the alleged changing of a Panchayat ward for Schedule Tribe (ST) in Dandi-A village here.
The protesters demanded immediate withdrawal of the order which according to them came after filling of nomination papers.
The Dandi village is located on the hill slope some 5 km in the east of Bhadarwah town mainly inhabited by poor labour class and is going to polls in the 6th phase on December 1 of the nine tier Panchayat elections.
According to the notification issued by Returning Officer, Panchayat Halqa Dandi on November 6 it was clearly mentioned that Dandi-A ward of the Panchayat is reserved for SC open after which a local SC youth Deepak Kumar after completing all the formalities filed his nomination papers against a proper receipt but on 13th he was telephonically informed by the Returning Officer to surrender the receipt as the said ward has been changed for ST open.
The protesters termed this abrupt change as discrimination aimed at to demoralize their morale and to keep them away from their democratic right.
When contacted, DDC Doda, Anshul Garg said that reservation for Panchayat elections on caste basis is being carried out as per the house to census conducted by education department and there are least chances of any error.
“As for Dandi Panchayat is concerned, I think there is some printing mistake, which created confusion and unrest among a particular section but I will look into the matter personally and needful will be done accordingly,” the officer added.
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