Kurukshetra MP to float OBC brigade to counter Jat agitation

With a view to thwarting various Jat organisations' proposed call of sealing Delhi borders in September to press their demand for reservation for the community, Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini has announced to form an "Other Backward Class (OBC) brigade".

With a view to thwarting various Jat organisations' proposed call of sealing Delhi borders in September to press their demand for reservation for the community, Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini has announced to form an "Other Backward Class (OBC) brigade".

HT Image

The first-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Saini told Hindustan Times on Sunday that the brigade volunteers would work to "safeguard the rights of the backward communities".

"However, the main objective behind forming the organisation is to counter the Jat leadership that was threatening to disrupt normal life in Delhi by closing inter-state borders by way of mass protests on September 28 to build pressure on the central government to get reservation benefits," he said.

"In the past few years, the Jat leadership in Haryana has resorted to violence, disruption of rail and road traffic to muzzle rights of the socially-weaker section of the society. Even as the Supreme Court has ruled that Jats cannot enjoy special privileges given by the Constitution to the OBCs, a section of Jat leaders is trying to build pressure by threatening to cut-off Delhi and we will not make it to happen," said Saini.

BJP leader clarified that the OBC brigade was an "apolitical front" comprising members of various communities, except Jats, to protect the constitutional rights of the weaker sections.

Saini said volunteers of the OBC brigade would work to ensure smooth supply of milk, water, vegetables etc whenever any organisation would resort to unconstitutional action that could affect life of a common man.

Leaders of Akhil Bharaitya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) and representatives of various khap panchayats have called a meeting in Delhi on August 9.

It is proposed that Jat leaders from various states will assemble in Delhi to discuss planning after the apex court rejected the Union government's decision to include Jats in the OBC category to gain benefit in reservation in education and government jobs.

Leaders such as Dharampal Chauth, AIJASS state president, have announced to seal inter-state borders of Delhi and cut supplies of all necessary commodities.

However, the Kurukshetra MP said OBC would not allow anyone to use pressure tactics to limit the constitutional benefits for socio-economic development of OBCs.