Labana Sabha demands community representation in Upper House

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 14: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-PDP led coalition Government for allegedly ignoring the representation of Labana Sikh member in Upper House, All J&K Labana Sabha has demanded due representation to SC/ST / OBC in State Legislature and administrative institutions.
In a statement, president of the Sabha, Lakhbir Singh, claimed that the community had voted heavily in favour of both these parties, which have now disappointed the voters. The BJP-PDP have converted the PM Modi’s slogan Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas into Sabka Sath-Sirf Apno Ka Vikas in J&K,” he alleged.
Mr Singh said that Labana community is the largest and majority community among the OBCs in J&K but has not been represented in State Assembly till now after the independence. First and last member of the community in Legislative Council was Piara Singh during Sheikh Abdullah Government, he said and added that there is a community with seven lakh members but not a single member in legislature and other administrative bodies of State which is quite shocking.
He alleged that the Government led by Mufti Syed was not in mood to move economically backward society towards the creation of an economically equal society.
Mr Singh also expressed deep disappointment with coalition Government for ignoring the 70 percent SC/ST/OBC population in the State. As per constitution of India the two tier legislature system in State was meant only to give representation to minorities,SC/ST / OBC and experts in other fields, who could not win Assembly elections, he added and explained that as per the population in State there should have been 20 to 25 MLCs of SC/ST and OBC in Council but there is hardly any MLCs of SC/ST/OBC community today. Even the institutions meant for SC/ST and OBC like State Commission for Backward Classes and OBC Advisory Board are not governed by the OBC members, he further said.