SC ST OBC to get their demands fulfilled, Gherao the State Assembly on 24th March 2025
Jammu, 09 March 2025: A massive public meeting was organized at Ambedkar Chowk Jammu today under the aegis of All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations and massive protest was held against the Reservation Amendment Bill 2025 introduced by NC MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri, terming it anti-SC/ST/OBC and a direct attack on the constitutional rights of marginalized communities. A large number of Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis participated in the protest, and expressed their outrage over MLA Veeri and the Bill. Participants strongly opposed the reservation structure of the Bill, which allots only 16% representation/ reservation to 70% of the population, including 8% SC, 10% ST-1 and 52% OBC, while the General category gets 84% representation. The SC ST OBC demanded that National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah expel MLA Veeri from his party.
The SC ST OBC demanded to increase the reservation & promotions for SC from 8% to 10%, ST-1 from 10% to 12% and ensure OBC reservation at 27% as per Mandal Commission. They stressed the need to restore reservation in promotions for SC/ST/OBC employees without any delay, increase age relaxation for SC/ST candidates from three years to five years and fill all backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC candidates in government jobs. The confederation demanded return of state lands with legal ownership to SC/ST/OBC communities and comprehensive caste census at both state and national levels to ensure proportionate allocation of reservation and resources. They demanded immediate appointment of a Scheduled Caste member in the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (PSC), which is vacant since December 2022.
Another major demand raised was that the “rural/village” tag be removed from the central OBC list against the Nai, Kumhar, Teeli and Dhobi communities, as done in SRO 294 of 2005 and SRO 124 of 2000. They also rejected the fake and misleading reports submitted by the deputy commissioners of all 20 districts about the OBC population in Jammu and Kashmir. It called for a fresh door-to-door survey to determine the accurate OBC population and ensure proper representation in panchayats, municipal corporations and committees.
R K Kalsotra State President, All India Confeseration of SC/ST/OBC Organisations, J&K urged the government to take strict action against the increasing incidents of caste-based atrocities and ensure safety of vulnerable communities.
He warned that any attempt to tamper with the rights of SC/ST/OBC communities will not be tolerated and the confederation will take to the streets to protect their constitutional rights. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate action and introduce the genuine Reservation Amendment Bill 2025 in the upcoming assembly session. Kalsotra further said that confederation reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of the rights of SC/ST/OBC communities in Jammu and Kashmir and vowed to take all necessary steps to prevent any dilution of reservation policies.
To get their demands fulfilled, the gathering with one voice unanmiously decided to hold intense protests including gherao of Jammu and Kashmir assembly on 24th March (Monday)2025.
The protest was attended by many prominent leaders including Bansi Lal Choudhary, Amir-ud-din Kasana, Ramesh Uttama, Dr Ramesh Kaith, Shashi Syal, Manoj Kumar, Suraj Parkash, Sarwar Chauhan, Dr. Rajinder Thappa, Mohd Arif, Janak Raj Thappa, Laju Raj, Ramesh Chander and many others.
