The Hindu : New Delhi News : Decision on SC,ST quota draws flak

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Decision on SC,ST quota draws flak

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 13. Senior Congress MLA and All-India Congress Committee secretary, Jai Kishen, has flayed the recent order of the Delhi Government which states that only those Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families who have been staying in Delhi before 1954 can apply for government jobs. He has urged the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, to withdraw the "anti-people'' order as it would work against the interests of the Congress party.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, the Sultanpuri MLA has sought to draw Ms. Dikshit's attention to the fact that such an order had created strong resentment among the SC/ST community, which could have wider ramifications for the party. Terming the decision as unwise and inappropriate, Mr. Jai Kishen said the contribution of lakhs of families for the welfare of the Capital and the provision for 22.5 per cent reservation in government jobs had become irrelevant with this order. Mr. Jai Kishen said in 1951, Delhi's total population stood at 17 lakhs which has now risen to around 1.40 crores of which 33 lakhs were from the SC/ST category.

Further more, Mr. Jai Kishen pointed out that the Delhi Assembly had recently constituted a committee to look into the issue in view of the matter being raised by a private member, Amrish Gautam. However, the Government did not even find it fit to wait for the recommendations of the committee and went ahead with this order rendering the work being done by this committee useless. "It is unfortunate that the Delhi Government chose to go ahead with such an order leading to strong resentment among these deprived sections. People would come out on the streets if the order was not taken back. It is sad that Ms. Dikshit and the Delhi Administration did not even think it appropriate to consult the elected representatives of the Scheduled Caste category before issuing such an order. It is an order that goes against the interests of the Congress party and could have repercussions in the Maharashtra polls,'' Mr. Jai Kishen remarked.

He urged the Chief Minister to withdraw the order till the Delhi Assembly committee submits its report on the issue.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi