Capt writes to PM on Jat quota
Monday, 23/12/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131223/punjab.htm#6
Amarinder Singh, Cong Leader & Jat Mahasabha Chief Chandigarh, December 22
Former Chief Minister and president of the All-India Jat Mahasabha, Capt Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the Cabinet decision on providing reservation to the Jats under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category be extended to the states of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh too.
In a statement, he said “The reservation should be based on caste and not religion as Sikh and Muslim Jats have been excluded from the benefit in several states.”
Lashing out at the ruling SAD in Punjab for failing to provide reservation to the Jats in the state, as had been done by other states, he asked: “What stops the Akalis from giving the benefit of reservation to Jats within the state?”
The former PPCC chief said that he would ensure that the Centre announced reservation for the Punjab Jats too, “ but let the Akalis not run away from their responsibility in the state.”
Amarinder Singh said it wa surprising that Punjab had not communicated anything to the Centre on the issue so far”.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Capt Amarinder wrote: “ Jats have presence in 13 states of the country. While the Government of India in its last Cabinet decision approved reservation for Jats in nine states, those residing in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have been left out.
“This is unfair and discriminatory as national decisions cannot be applied selectively. This is arbitrary and will be viewed as partisan”.
Maintaining that the decision must be applied uniformly across all states, he said, no national decision could be made for a part of the community in some parts of the country.
“In this case, Jats, be they Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims ,have been divided on a national basis which is unjust and unfair,” Amarinder Singh argued.
The Congress leader had earlier in November written to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, arguing in favour of reservation for the Jats across the country under the OBC category.
He hoped that the matter would be handled with more sensitivity and the “genuine” demand of the Jats spread across several states was accepted without any discrimination.
Ramoowalia warns
Senior SAD leader BS Ramoowalia has warned if the Centre does not include Jat Sikhs in the OBC list, he will ask the community across the country to boycott the Congress for its discriminatory approach
SAD to discuss issue today
Chandigarh, December 22
A meeting of the core committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will be held here tomorrow. Sources said the committee would focus on the Centre's decision not to include Jat Sikhs of Punjab in the list of Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The Union Government has directed the National Commission of Backward Classes to consider the proposal to include Jats of nine states, including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh in the list of OBCs for reservation in jobs. However, Punjab does not figure in the list.
Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, asking him to include the Jats of Punjab and those in certain other states in the OBC list. The issue seems to be taking a political hue.
