Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 20: Congress today held a protest dharna over the failure of the Central and State Government to safeguard the interests of SCs/STs/OBCs and other down trodden population in the State.
An impressive dharna was held at Dr BR Ambedkar Chowk here to lodge protest over the anti-reserved category policies of the Sate and Centre Govt as result the deprived sections of the society in the State are suffering. The State Govt has failed to defend the reservation Act in the court of law, as a result the reserved categories of SC/ST/OBC/ALC and RBA would be deprived of promotional benefits.
The dharna was led by former Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand and former Minister and PCC vice president Mula Ram.
Addressing the gathering, the senior Congress leaders lashed out at the Centre and State Govt for their policies towards SC/ST/OBC and other reserved categories. Former Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand while accused the Govt of following anti- SC/ST policies since they came to power and said that the deprived and neglected sections of society will fight back for their due rights. He said that apart from SC/ST & OBC, the benefit of reservation in professional courses appointments and promotions being availed by the residents of Backward Area, ALC and handicapped people who are suffering due to the policies of the present Govt.
Former Minister Mula Ram lashed out at the Centre and State Govt for their policies with regards to the deprived sections of the society and said that their moves are against the interests of poor and down trodden. He said that during the last financial year, the Modi led Govt has reduced budget allocation in the SC sub-plan by Rs 13,208 crores and in ST Sub Plan by Rs 7714 crores, which shows their anti- SC/ST moves.
Raman Bhalla in his address attacked the Govt for its failure on all fronts and said that BJP is persuing pro-rich and anti-poor policies. He said that the prices of all essential commodities have touched record high making the life of common people very difficult but the Modi Govt is unmoved about the plight of poor, down trodden, farmers and other middle class people.
These leaders announced that Congress would lodge a strong protest and `gherao’ the Civil Secretariat on its opening day in Jammu over various issues of the people of different sections of the State and Jammu region.
Prominent among others who accompanied included Balwan Singh (Ex-MLA), chief spokeshman Ravinder Sharma (Ex-MLC), MLAs Ch Akram, Mumtaj Ahmed Khan; general secretaries, Manjit Singh, Shah Mohd Choudhary, Manmohan Singh & Vikram Malhotra; Treasurer- Rajnish Sharma, GL Chalotra & Krishan Chander Bhagat (Ex-MLAs), Anil Chopra (DCC president Jammu), NSUI president Neeraj Kundan, Udhey Bhan Chib, (All India Secretary NSUI), Sain Rasheed-president DCC Rajouri), Subash Gupta (Ex-MLC & DCC president Kathua), Subhash Bhagat, Maheshwar Singh, Ashok Sharma and others.
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