Pune: A national body of Other Backward Class (OBC) demanded a comprehensive caste census of the Backward Class along with other demands like appropriate representation of the OBCs in public sector as well as a private sector reservation, Bharat Ratna award for Savitribai Phule and Jyotiba Phule, safety and civil rights to Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other minorities, etc.
Speaking at a press conference organised in the city on Saturday, the members of the Bhartiya Pichda (OBC) Shoshit Sanghatan, a New Delhi-based body, said that a detailed census of the OBCs is the need of the hour.
“We have seen the condition of the OBCs go from bad to worse over the years as other communities take the path of progress,” said Vilas Kale of the Sanghatan, adding, “That is because there has been no comprehensive survey of OBC castes, which would give a clear picture of the woes of this community.”
“We also think that when the Constitution has granted an unconditional reservation to the oppressed, once identified as oppressed, why are the OBCs put under the creamy layer clause and not other castes who have reservations,” Kale questioned.
He further added, “Maharashtra has a creamy layer ceiling of 8 lakh while Bihar has made it 12 lakh and Tamil Nadu has no such condition at all. Why this differentiation if we have been identified as backward at once.”
The OBC body says it will hold a statewide ‘Sanvidhanik Nyay Yatra’ to push for their demands. The rally will begin from the Phule Wada in Pune on April 11 and go via Kolhapur, Nagpur and reach Mumbai, gathering at the Chaityabhumi on May 11. The list of demands that the body has put forward also has demands like the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission, Sacchar Commission, cancelling the collegium system of judicial appointments and establishing an All India Judicial Service Commission among others.
