New Delhi: As the BJP government in Gujarat announced 27 per cent reservation to Other Backward Classes in local self-governing bodies, the move received a mixed reaction on Tuesday. While Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other BJP leaders hailed the move, the Congress called the decision an attempt to "cheat" OBC community members, reported news agency PTI.
Hailing the decision, which was taken on the basis of the Justice Jhaveri Commission report, Patel and Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil said that the decision was aimed at keeping all sections of society together.
However, Congress leader Amit Chavda said that the decision was taken to "mislead and cheat" OBC community members and challenged BJP leaders for a public debate on the issue.
According to PTI, Gujarat Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Isudan Gadhvi said the decision was taken because the BJP feared losing their support in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has always made efforts to move forward by keeping people from different castes, communities and religions together. The decision to provide a 27 per cent reservation to the OBC community in local bodies is in direction of the same effort,” Patel said.
The CM was addressing a joint press conference along with Paatil at state BJP headquarters 'Kamalam' where the decision was welcomed with a bursting of crackers.
The Chief Minister, together with Paatil, addressed a joint press conference at the state BJP headquarters 'Kamalam,' where the decision was welcomed with a bursting of crackers.
Patel said arrangements have also been made to ensure that non-OBC communities are not affected by the reservation measure.
Thanking the state government and the chief minister for the decision, Paatil said that 52 per cent of the population in Gujarat belongs to the OBC community.
The state BJP president said, “The Gujarat government has taken the decision to reserve 27 per cent seats for OBCs (in local bodies). As much as 52 per cent of the population in Gujarat belongs to OBCs, and out of the 156 BJP MLAs, 50 are from the community. This clearly means the party takes both OBCs and other communities together.”
“The decision has been taken as per Supreme Court guidelines. At the same time, efforts have been taken to ensure that existing reservations for SC/ST communities are not affected,” he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Chavda said the BJP government dragged its feet on forming a commission to deliberate on the OBC quota issue and then make recommendations and then took time to implement the Jhaveri panel report.
the opposition MLA claimed that it took a massive agitation by the OBC community for the government to take a decision on the quota issue.
“The manner in which the minister (Rushikesh Patel, who is also government spokesperson) made the announcement shows the government's intention was not right. The Supreme Court's guidelines and the commission recommendation have not been followed, and the government was misleading and cheating the people (of OBC community),” he claimed.
“I invite BJP leaders to discuss the (OBC reservation) issue and the report of the commission and SC guidelines,” he added.
AAP leader Gadhvi alleged that the BJP government wanted to suppress the report of the Jhaveri Commission.
“The BJP government hatched a conspiracy over the years to eliminate the 27 per cent OBC reservation. But fortunately OBCs showed unity, people from the community came forward, held small and big meetings to expose this conspiracy of the government,” the AAP leader said.