05-04-2023 : In a largely attended press conference held under the banner of JKRCEA, the members of SCSTOBC communities showed their deep concern and anguish against the misguiding and misfeeding given by J&K Bureaucracy to Hon’ble LG Sh. Manoj Sinha ji. Pertinently, LG Manoj Sinha is a seasoned politician and an engineering graduate from an institute of excellence and in spite of that he is being befooled by the J&K Bureaucracy on many aspects related to various constitutional and social aspects pertaining to SCSTOBCs of JKUT. It is much surprising for the SCs of J&K that LG Sinha while addressing a gathering of SCs in Jammu on 25^th March said that the matter of reservation in J&K is sub judice, the reserved categories employees of Kashmir did not honour the agreement, scholarship disbursements to SCsbe streamlined and ‘VanchitonkoVariata’ is the commitment of the central government. In reality these are few slogans which all the citizen of country are listening since last 08 years. In reality, in a very calculative manner the constitutional rights of SCSTOBCs have almost been killed in J&K, on the false slogan of “Dhara 370 kaakhatma Jammu Kashmir Maine eknayaitihaslikahyega”. In fact after 370 abrogations the socio-educational and economic condition of marginalized communities have further deteriorated. The SCSTOBC leaders sitting in the ruling dispensation have played a great role in all this debacle by not uttering any thing favorable to these communities. They don’t have any say in the governing system and rather they work as puppets or stooges in the hands of their political bosses. They are not even called in the important decision-making meetings of the party. They are restricted only uptoMorchas and the dictates to Morch leaders also comes from upper caste political bosses. The overall coordinator of these Morchas is also an upper caste. All this is being watched by the masses and politically a good lesson shall be definitely taught to the ruling dispensation when time comes. This is far sure that present LG shall not contest elections from J&K but wrong narratives spelled out by LG on misgivings of the anti SCSTOBCs bureaucracy in J&K shall be harming both reserved category and general candidates in the assembly elections whenever they are held. The members further elaborated that it is almost 02 years since LG sahib promised the delegation of the organization that he will settle the issue of Reservation in Promotions within 10 days and shall call the representatives once again but that day has never come in spite of repeated reminders of the meeting to his good office.

Prof. G.L. Thapa, while further elaborating on the plights of SCSTOBCs of J&K the members said that the J&K bureaucracy is not allowing the implementation of the 77^th Constitutional Amendment which have been extended to the State of J&K through PRESIDENTAIL ORDER, dated 1^st March 2019, part of the said order pertaining to EWS reservation has been implemented and not Reservation in Promotions for SCSTS. Furthermore, the Reservation Act of 2004 stands protected in J&K Reorganization Act of 2019, that was passed by both houses of the parliament, the supreme law-making body of the country.  It means that after 1^st March 2019, there is no obstacle in giving reservation in promotions to SCSTs in J&K. So the statement of LG sahib given on 25^th March is based on a false report by bureaucrats.

Sham Basson, while addressing the media added that be it various Parliamentary Committees,  Delimitation Commission, and even J&K Backward Classes Commission headed by retired justice G.D. sharma there was hardly any interaction with the social groups and the civil society and they have not even considered the representations of the masses and brought out an arbitrary report of Delimitation of assembly segments as well as report of Backward Classes Commission. He added that ‘Land to Tiller’ was the excellent and unique act of empowering marginalized section in J&K but the central government through LG administration is hell bent upon snatching land rights from SCBCs in J&K. There is severe blow to BPL families, Widow pension scheme and many other welfare schemes meant for poor and needy. How the LGs administration claims that they  are committed to “VanchitounkoVariata”. The false slogans are being well understood by common masses very well now and hence if LG  and central government is so sincere he should show this all on ground. The SCST employees are getting harassment day in and day out in the matters of promotions and positions, the atrocities of SCs have increased several fold in J&K, there is a clear bias while LGs administration treats upper caste and reserved employees.  When some unfortunate mishappening occurs with upper caste in Kashmir the LG administration swings to action immediately but if the same thing happens with an SC employee or commoner, LGs administration takes days and weeks to act. It has been seen in the case of martyr Rajni Bala and families of victims of Rajouri incidence.

Prof. Kali Dass; while addressing the media said thatimplementation of Mandal Commission report is awaited in JKUT and the unconstitutionally carved categories are enjoying good share of reservation in educational institutions and employment at the cost of depriving OBCs of their due share. He vehemently opposed giving ST status to the Pahari speaking people that is not only unconstitutional but shall dilute the Tribal status also. If the government do not rethink on this issue it may invite a statewide agitation. He said that the other unconstitutional reservations to ALC, RBA and others should also be revisited and OBCs of J&K should be given 27% reservation as promised by the Prime minister on many occasions.

In the end it was urged upon PM of India and LG of JKUT not to test the patience of these larger group of people of J&K who can make and break the political equations very well. If LG of JKUT is sincere, he should immediately implement 1^st March 2019 Presidential Order in totality, he should direct Social welfare department to immediately release scholarships to SCSTs which are pending since 2016 in many cases. No further extension shall be given to BC Commission and the Commission should be directed to make the draft report public and discuss it with the sCSTOBC organizations before its finalization.

T.C. Bavouria, M. R. Bangotra, G.L. Rahi, M.L. Banalia, Haji Fotedar, B.R. Banalia, Abdul Majid Malik, KewalFotra, Raj Kumar Bhagat, SardariLal, Romesh Kumar, Vishal Bhagat, Rakesh Attri, Manoj Kumar, SohanBadgal, KewalKrishanFotra, M.R. Bangotra, SuneshBhagat, Baldev Raj, Des Raj and others attended the Press Conference.