Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that the Modi government will not refrain from according constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), and blamed the Opposition Congress for blocking a Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing the ninth State-level convention of the Vishwakarma community here, Mr. Singh said that to ensure social and economic justice to all backward castes in the country, the government has decided to provide constitutional status to the NCBC. The Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill in April. However, the Congress blocked the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, he alleged.
“You people need not beg for social justice. It’s your right.” The Modi government has constituted a committee for sub-categorisation of various castes in the OBC list to ensure justice to small and marginalised castes, Mr. Singh told the community.
A total of 30% reservation has been given to OBCs in Karnataka. But unfortunately, only a few major backward castes have grabbed benefits under various government schemes, he said.
The NCBC would examines and recommend requests for inclusion and exclusion in the list of other backward classes or OBCs, he said.
Demonetisation policy
The demonetisation policy was aimed at checking black money and accumulation of wealth by a few people. The previous UPA government sanctioned loans to businessman and industrialist Vijay Mallya who was involved money laundering, the Union Home Minister said.
India has emerged as one of the strong nations now and this can be seen in the handling of the Doklam stand-off, which was resolved through negotiations, he said. With regard to Pakistan, he said armed forces have been retaliating strongly on the Line of Control to stop terrorist infiltration by Pakistan.
BJP vice-president and Karnataka Vishwakarma Mahasabha president K.P. Nanjundi felicitated Mr. Singh. BJP leaders, including State president B.S. Yeddyurappa, were present.