National event held by Confederation at Batote, tribute paid to Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath Ji

Batote, 1st June, 2023: All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations held a national level event at Batote, J&K in order to pay tribute to son of the soil, Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath Ji. Dr OM Sudha, National General Secretary of Confederation was the Chief Guest at the event and it was presided over by RK Kalsotra, State President Confederation.

Two resolution adopted in national event in favour of Son of the soil, Shaheed Bhagat Amar Nath ji, first to declare Gazetted holiday in UT-J&k under NI Act 1981 and second naming Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Project to be named as Shaheed Bhagat Amar Nath Hydro Electric Power Project and memorandum to be submitted to President, Prime Minister and LG UT-J&K

The son of soil, Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath was born on Friday the 27th Sep.1918 at village Champa near Batote Tehsil Ramban Distt Udhampur (Now Ramban) in a Bhagat or Megh family now one of the of Scheduled Castes. He resigned from the Govt. job and joined social service. He joined Congress party and was elected as Congress Block President and later was made the Secretary of this party. To fulfill his dreams of uplifting and betterment of the depressed classes educationally, socially, economically, he came to Jammu from his native place with an explicit motive, and to secure justice for Dalit Samaj of J&K in particular and whole of country in general. Bhagat ji created a close contact with Jammu based Dalit leaders i.e Babu Parmanand, Babu Milkhi Ram, Bhagat chajju Ram, Pashori lal and Mahasa Nar Singh, Jagat Ram Aryan (Kishtwar) and others. But the government was not acceding to the just demands of the Dalit leaders.

Despite issue of G.O No 252-GD of 1969 dated 3-2-1969 and Govt. Notification No 37 GR of 1970 dated 28th April 1970 for providing reservation in services for the SC’s, ST’s and OBC’s the state Govt. was still reluctant to implement the reservation rules in services in letter and spirit. Shaheed Bhagat Amar Nath took it very seriously and a comprehensive note on the ill-conceived intention of the state Govt. Containing detailed demands was submitted to the State govt. When the State government failed to give positive respond, he intensified his nonstop agitation in the entire Jammu province by leading many processions, demonstrations, public meetings for the expeditious redressal of core issue including reservation. An ultimatum with deadline was given to state Govt. to take remedial measures soon otherwise he shall go for fast unto death. When convinced that the state government was not taking his threats seriously, he under took fast unto death.

Martyrdom of Bhagat Amar Nath in 1970 proved final blow to hurdles in providing Reservation in Services in J&K State. However, later on with the struggle of Confederation State Govt passed a Act to give the Reservation sound legal footing is services for SCs, STc, OBCs was issued vide Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 Dated19/23 March, 2004. Shaheed Bhagat Amar Nath’s name shall go in the History of Martyrs for the cause of Rights of Dalits in India.

Leaders of the confederation paid tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath and pledged to make him a national hero who fought for the rights of underprivileged in J&K.

Dr Om Sudha, National Secretary, in his address mentioned that the government is committed to dilute the rights of SC/ST/OBCs by tweaking the Constitution of India. The biggest contribution of the SC/ST/OBC community to the struggle of Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath could be uniting to protect the Constitution of India which enshrined equal rights via reservation. He also mentioned about the issues of privatisation of the government sector, no reservation in judicial appointments, issues with the EVMs, dilution of fundamental rights. He also emphasised on the need for awareness at the grassroot level. He further said that Confederation is holding Bahujan Sansad on 2nd July at Constitution Club, New Delhi and appealed to all to participate to discuss for future strategy to Save Constitution Save Rights.

RK Kalsotra, State President Confederation, said that the state administration has become extremely slow and is not paying any heed to the needs and aspirations of SC/ST/OBC aana minorities. There is no reservation in promotions, a huge backlog of 1.07 lakhs, only 4% reservation for OBCs, a rise in caste based atrocities, among other issues. He added that the struggle of Dr BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Amarnath is of paramount importance and should be continued by the people in order to ensure the rights for which they laid down their lives and that can be the biggest tribute to them.

Om Sudha and R K Kalsotra also felicitated the state leaders confederation and social leaders along with meritorious students.
Moreover State Unit also felicitated Se Om Sudha ji

People who participated in huge numbers from all walks of life were made aware about the contribution of Bhagat Amarnath Ji and they pledged to continue his legacy and make him a national hero.

Other guests who spoke and paid tribute were Prithvi Raj, Amar Nath Bhagat, Sardar Narinder Singh Khalsa, Roshan Choudhary,  Dina Nath, Dr. Sameer Choudhary, Adv. Susheel, Swami Raj, Arif Salaria, Sardar Janak Singh, Atta Mohd, Sardar Harasis Kranti, Mulkh Raj, Mohd Yousaf, Rashpal Chand Divya Bharti,
Neha Devi, Pradeep Kumar Bhagat, Bishan Das, Rakesh Sharma, Rashpal Chand, Ashok Kumar, Shashi Syal, Raj Meenia.

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