The Rajasthan Social Justice Movement, comprising the groups representing backward classes, on Monday announced boycott of “Manuwadi” candidates to be fielded across the political spectrum in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The forum alleged discrimination against backward classes and dilution of reservation norms by the NDA government at the Centre.
At a State-level convention here, the forum’s representatives demanded that the political parties give tickets to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities in proportion to their population.
“No Manuwadi politician with a mindset to deny legitimate rights to underprivileged sections should be allowed to contest the polls,” Sandeep Chaudhary of Samvidhan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti said.
Rajasthan OBC Mahapanchayat general secretary Virendra Rawana said the OBCs, which comprised 52.5% population in the country, were getting only 27% reservation in the Centre and 21% in the State. “On the other hand, the government has introduced 10% quota for the poor in general category. The Constitution does not recognise reservation on the basis of economic backwardness,” he said.
Dalit Muslim Ekta Manch convener Abdul Latif Arco said the ruling BJP at the Centre was not only fomenting tension between religious communities, but was also trying to make the reservation meaningless by diluting its provisions. Its next step, if it was elected to power once again, would be the denial of basic facilities to below poverty line families, he said.
Jat leader and Aarakshan Adhikar Manch president Raja Ram Meel said the previous Vasundhara Raje government in the State had denied appointments to OBCs through the Public Service Commission. “The cut-off marks for OBCs were higher than those of general category in several examinations. Many of these cases are still pending in the courts,” he said.
The forum’s representatives said a formal call would be issued shortly for casting votes in favour of OBC candidates irrespective of their political affiliation.
Other groups represented in the Social Justice Movement are Samajik Adhikar Nyay Manch, Ambedkar Welfare Society, Bhim Sansad and Sri Krishna Yadav Vikas Sansthan.