Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 11
Close on the heels of some ministers and party MLAs holding meetings to exert pressure on the Chief Minister to fulfil the poll promises, Congress Dalit and OBC MLAs, including two Dalit ministers, today met to discuss the inordinate delay in the implementation of promises by their own government.
The development gains importance in the wake of recent announcements by BJP and SAD to give adequate representation to Dalits and OBCs in political hierarchy, including the post of Deputy CM.
Trying to steer clear of the platform being used by party leaders to vent their ire against the Chief Minister over the delay in giving justice to the families of victims of police firing at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, the Dalit leaders who met at the house of minister Charanjit Singh Channi made it clear that the meeting had nothing to do with the leadership issue and was confined to discuss the way forward in addressing the long-pending issues.
The issues include implementation of Cabinet decision on 30 per cent reservation for Dalit and weaker sections in political appointments, at least six ministers of the total allowed strength of 18 in the Council of Ministers, representation for Dalit officers in higher government posts, implementation of 85th amendment to extend benefit of reservation to SC/weaker sections in matters of promotion with consequential seniority, abolition of group D posts, DC rates for safai karamcharis, besides others.
Ministers Charanjit Channi and Aruna Chaudhary, besides 11 MLAs who were present in the meeting and others who joined over the phone, decided to seek time from the Chief Minister to discuss the urgent matter. The leaders are also likely to seek time from party president Sonia Gandhi over the issues.
It was pointed out that despite raising the issues during Vidhan Sabha sessions, these had not been addressed.
MLA Raj Kumar Verka, who was present in the meeting, said Channi informed the members about the letter on the issues he had written to the Chief Minister and party high command earlier this month. Aruna Chaudhary is learnt to have said the meeting should be restricted to only Dalit issues.
Others MLAs present in the meeting included Sangat Singh Gilzian, Balwinder Singh Laddi, Dr Harjot Kanwal, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, Joginder Pal, Balwinder Dhaliwal, besides others.
Promises to Dalits ‘unfulfilled’, Cong MLAs get into a huddle
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