Shadow Correspondent
Vijaypur, Dec, 30:
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla has said that the OBC people, who remained neglected and ignored by previous government, shall not be ignored under the presidentship of Rahul Gandhi. He was speaking at a programme in Vijaypur as chief guest organized to honour newly appointed OBC Cell Chairman Distt Samba, Bharat Bushan. Former Minister Manjeet Singh was the guest of honour. Prominent among those present on the occasion include OBC District Jammu chairman Adv. Suresh Dogra, Chairman Distt Samba Bharat Bushan, AA Nagra Co Chairman OBC Kashmir, Rajinder Kumar Rural District President, Parshotam Lal Mehra Vice Chairman, Ramesh Lal, Kathua, Vijay Verma, Madan Lal Chalotra, Aditya Dogra, Raj Kumar Mehra, Bushan Lal Mehra, MY Bhatt, Parmodh Jasyal, J Kumhar, Gurpreet Gopi, Puneet Arora, Sunny Kashyap, Showkat Ali beside others.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla assured the OBCs that all their problems shall be projected before the high command and the high command shall never disappoint the OBC people in the State as well as in the country. He said that BJP-PDP Govt has ignored the reserved categories while Congress was committed to provide justice to every section of society. He appealed the OBC people to raise their voice for their welfare and upliftment and the Congress party shall try to fulfill their expectations. Bhalla accused the previous PDP-BJP government of taking the weaker sections of the society “for granted”, saying “over three years of their mis-rule these segments of the society were relegated as second-class citizens”.He urged the Governor’s administration for undoing the “wrongs committed by the previous government and sought speedy implementation of various schemes tailored for empowering the weaker sections”. He alleged the BJP of making “hollow promises” with the people with regard to development, employment and economic emancipation of the weaker sections.”In partnership with the PDP, the BJP not only failed in keeping the promises but also stalled the initiatives taken by the Congress led government for welfare and economic empowerment of the OBCs.
Bhalla reiterated adequate representation for the OBCs in the Corporation set up for welfare of weaker segments of society, saying that “this is needed to be headed by a member of the community, who can understand the problems and take effective measures for execution of various schemes for their welfare”. Bhalla said that Congress alone could ensure equitable development in all the three regions and it had sizeable strength in Kashmir and Ladakh regions also, apart from Jammu region which was its strong bastion. The people realized that Congress could ensure justice to all sections and regions in the state, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Manjeet Singh said his party is committed to give greater political representation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) not just within the organization, but also in Parliament and State Assemblies. The Congress will ensure that all its party committees will have representation from OBCs, Singh said adding that the party has stood by the OBCs in the past including on the issues like reservation and will continue to stand by them. He also attacked BJP for dividing the OBCs. He said that Congress was the voice of all sections of the society and it represented the people of all regions in the state irrespective of their faiths, religion or caste. The downtrodden sections of the society should get their due and the demands of OBC, in the state should be taken up for enhancement of their reservation quota by necessary amendment in the present rule wherever required, he assured.
