Dispatch News.
Opposition BJP on Saturday took out a foot march from the party office to the Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Anusuiya Uikey urging her to intervene in the matter of ST reservation and ask the state government to restore 32% reservation quota for the STs.
Senior BJP leaders, including BJP state president Arun Sao, leader of opposition Narayan Chandel, senior tribal leader and former union minister RamvicharNetam, former ministers KedarKashyap, Mahesh Gagda, MP Gomti Sao, were present in the rally. They also met the Governor.
These senior leaders later told the media that the Congress government in Chhattisgarh is to blame for tribal pain today. Sao said that the state government failed to present the facts in the High Court to defend the 32% reservation quota, resulting in a reduction in the reservation quota by 12% to comply with a Supreme Court decision capping the total reservation up to 50%.
The BJP government 2011 formulated a law to increase reservation up to 58%, including 32% ST reservation. When the Supreme Court capped the reservation and asked the High Court to look into the matter, the Congress government paid no attention. As per Sao, the state government’s carelessness and lack of preparation have resulted in tribal suffering today. According to Sao, the state government had ample time to defend tribal interests. Similarly, this government took away the benefit of employment for youths in notified areas of the state.
“We urged the Governor to exercise her rights to protect the interest of the tribes. In turn, the Governor assured us of the necessary steps,” Sao said.
Tribal leader Ramvichar Netam said that the Congress government is conspiring to end the tribal leadership in the state. This government kept the tribals in the dark. He claims that the state government has never taken the 32% ST reservation seriously.
Earlier, top BJP leaders and workers marched from the party city office to the Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Congress president Mohan Markam compared the BJP march on the ST reservation issue with crocodile tears. The Congress has already made its stand clear that it is committed to protecting the interest of tribals.
Markam questioned why the BJP did not present the Nankiram Kanwar committee report on ST reservation in court. He claimed that it is a BJP plot against the tribe.
