Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 25: A meeting of General Category People's Forum (GCPFJ) was held under the chairmanship of Raj Kumar Banathia, in which threadbare discussion was held over the marginalization and neglect of `Swarn' (upper) castes in social, economic and political sphere by Indian political class and the negative effects of caste-based reservation.
In the meeting, a resolution was passed with one voice demanding implementation of Supreme Court verdicts on reservation from time to time besides economic and other measures for all the poor, needy and deserving families irrespective of their caste and religion.
Addressing the meeting, Yash Paul Sharma, president of the Forum, appealed the people to wake up and join the struggle for the restoration of fundamental rights of equality, justice and dignity. He alleged that political class in India has been committing unabated discrimination and marginalization of general category people through caste-based reservations, special privileges, concessions, jobs and scholarships. He alleged that the Government was promoting castism, communalism and regionalism through its vote bank, divide and rule policies and pampering and political appeasement of some ethnic groups.
Som Nath Sharma, general secretary of the Forum demanded abrogation of black SC/ST Atrocity Act, which is allegedly being used as a blackmailing weapon against innocent people by anti-social element.
He also demanded abolition of Article 330 & 332, which are discriminatory and debar about 30 crore people from their fundamental right of 'right to be elected'. He castigated political parties for inflicting discrimination with General Category people in the name of social justice and so called past injustices.
V K Sharma, vice president of the Forum, stressed upon the Government to stop violation of Articles 14, 15 & 16 of the Constitution and adhere to the norms and principles of a civilized society and UN Charter of Human Rights.
Deepak Khajuria, secretary of the Forum, said that it is unfortunate to tax the poor and middle class and to provide undue caste-based facilities and concessions to the rich which is against the laws of natural justice.
Shushan Pargal, vice president of the Forum, said that due to reservation, people failed to get the services of competent doctors, engineers, teachers, bureaucrats, administrators and political leaders. |
