Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 24: All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations J&K has alleged that respective Central Governments never fully implemented Poona Pact of 1932.
Members of Dalit communities gathered under the statute of Dr BR Ambedkar at Ambedkar Chowk, Jammu under the ages of All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations J&K and held a brief protest. The members alleged that all successive States and Central Governments cheated SCs for not implementing the Poona Pact Agreement in toto which refers to an agreement between Dr Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi signed on September 24, 1932 at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune.
It was signed by Pt Madan Mohan Malviya and Dr BR Ambedkar and some Dalit leaders to break the fast unto death undertaken by Gandhi in Yerwada Jail to annul Macdonald Award giving separate electorate to Dalits for electing members of State Legislative Assemblies and Reservation in all sector including job employment in British India.
To draft a new Constitution involving self-rule for the native Indians, the British invited leaders of different parties in the Round Table Conferences in 1930-32.
Mahatma Gandhi did not attend the first and last but attended the second of the Conferences. The concept of separate electorates for the untouchables was raised by Dr Ambedkar. Such provisions were already available for other minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Anglo-Indians and Sikhs. The British Government agreed with Ambedkar’s contention, and British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald ‘s Communal Award to the depressed classes was to be incorporated into the constitution in the governance of British India. Gandhiji strongly opposed the communal award on the grounds that it would disintegrate Hindu society. He began an indefinite hunger strike at Yerwada Central Jail from September 20, 1932 to protest against this Award. A compromise was reached on September 24, 1932.
RK Kalsotra, State president Confederation said they were cheated by State and Centre Government including by the State of J&K also. They failed to implement Poona Pact in toto. They didn’t give us equal share in land, trade, business, job in private sector, even they failed to give them full benefits of Govt jobs.
Ramesh Sarmal, Mohinder Kumar, Imran Chouhary, Vijay Mangotra, Shashi Syal, Shamasher Bhagat, and others also spoke on the occasion.
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