Christians demand reservation in Govt jobs, professional colleges

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: Christians in Jammu and Kashmir have demanded two percent reservation to the community in Government jobs and professional colleges.
The demand was raised during a meeting of executive members of Jammu and Kashmir Christian Minority Welfare Association, held under the chairmanship of Nassir Masih at Christian Colony, Residency Road Jammu.
While welcoming the Government decision of granting 3 percent reservation to the residents of International Border alongside the Actual Line of Control and 4 percent reservation to the Pahari speaking people, Nassir Masih alleged that the Centre and state Government have been using all the time to please and appease all other weaker and minority communities to get their bulk vote bank and maintaining stoic silence for the oppressed Christian community, which constitutes only 3 percent of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir UT. “Such an attitude of the Centre and JK UT Government is responsible for the backwardness of the community in all sphere of life,” he alleged.
Michael Wazir, president of the organization, expressed resentment over the continuous ignorance and neglect of this down trodden minority community. He also alleged step motherly treatment by BJP led Government at Centre and UT administration in mitigating just and genuine demands of this beleaguered Christian minority community. “Jammu and Kashmir UT administration, which is expected to promote the interests of this weaker, marginalized and beleaguered community, is discriminating against Christians,” he said and added that the delicate balance of secularism in Indian can only be maintained if every citizen feels equal to other, irrespective of community.
Michael Wazir urged the Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu to provide solace by granting two percent reservation to this oppressed Christian minority community in all the professional Institutions and in Government services like other weaker section of the society, to alleviate the miserable condition confronted to community members.
“We are hopeful that these steps would usher prosperity and sense of dignity to this poor Christian minority community in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
The executive’s members, who attended the meeting, included Gafoor Masih, Hamid Mattoo, Sham Lal Gill, Vinod Sotra, Rewal Masih, Saleem Sotra, Vinod Gill, Sachin Sawar, Mukesh, Marshal Sotra, Rohit Sotra, Kasish, Tony and Vijay Gill.

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