Take up Dalit issues at all party forums, says Jakhar

Wednesday, 17/02/2016

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/politics/take-up-dalit-issues-at-all-party-forums-says-jakhar/197275.html

Ludhiana : The second-day of the SC conclave, organised by the Congress, started on introspective note, with senior Congress leader and former CLP leader Sunil Jakhar saying that if other parties attempt to hijack Dalit issues, it reflects a failure on part of the Congress leaders.

“We have lost a significant basis of our vote bank. Muslims drifted away. Dalits shifted their loyalties to the BSP,” said Jakhar, addressing the gathering of Dalit leaders and workers in Ludhiana. 

Stressing on the need for introspection, he said: “We have to understand why all this happened.” Jakhar said it was imperative not to look at Dalits as a mere vote bank. Party leaders should make sincere efforts to address the issues concerning Dalits. 

The former CLP leader, while chiding leaders for hogging media limelight, asked how often Dalit-related issues were taken up by the leaders. “Those focusing on publicity are not leaders. The Akali Dal policies are decidedly anti-people. But what are we doing? We should take up the public issues in all earnestness,” he said. 

During the conclave, Dalit leaders and workers from the party had a freewheeling discussion on issues pertaining to the community. 

The 2017 Assembly elections remained central to all the discussions. The speakers said, “Dalits do not want to live on government dole-outs or atta-daal schemes. Dalits want opportunities for quality education and employment.” 

“Don’t reduce us to being beggars. We want schools imparting quality education to be started in all blocks of the state. We want interest-free loans for education of Dalit students,” said four-time legislator Ranjit Singh. 

A woman sarpanch from Bhoa, said she has had to wage a double struggle as she is a woman and Dalit. 

Issues of party ticket allocation and community-wise representation of Dalits in 2017 Assembly elections were also discussed. A leader from Pathankot said the SC leaders should have a decisive say in the 34 Assembly constituencies reserved for SCs. 

The Congress leaders and workers from various Dalit communities deliberated upon the need to empower their respective communities politically. Some of them complained about alleged step-motherly treatment being meted out to their community by the party. 

CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi said the Congress will ensure fairness and justice in the distribution of party tickets for the Assembly elections. “The allocation of party tickets will be done keeping in view the demographic factors of the constituency.” He said the party will reserve at least 35 per cent seats for Dalits in the party posts. The party, when it forms the government, will ensure 35 per cent representation in the government departments, he added.