Mayawati now wants reservation for Jats in Central government's list of other backward classes (OBC)Its her 3rd letter in last 3 days-Sep 19, 2011

Mayawati now wants reservation for Jats

Ashish TripathiAshish Tripathi, TNN | Sep 19, 2011, 04.48PM IST


LUCKNOW: UP chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati shot off yet another letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh demanding inclusion of Jats in Central government's list of other backward classes (OBC). This is the third letter to prime minister from Mayawati in three consecutive days.

While in the first letter she asked for constitutional amendment for Muslim quota in government jobs and educational institutions, the second one was for giving reservation to poor upper castes and putting reservation policy in ninth schedule of the constitution so that it cannot be challenged in any law court.

Maya has written that Jats earn their livelihood from agriculture and related activities. However, with time and increase of population, the per person land holding has dropped. As a result, Jats are now financially and educationally backward.

"The Jats in UP were included in OBC list in March 10, 2000. The Jats (leaving those living in Dhaulpur and Bharatpur districts) in Rajasthan were included in the Centre's OBC list in October 1999. The financial and educational condition of Jats in UP is similar to their counterparts in Rajasthan. Hence, the Jats of UP should be included in the government of India's list of OBC," she has written. Jats are the largest ethnic group having presence in Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs in India.

Their population is believed to be around 8.25 crore across nine states in India. In UP, their population is around 1.75 crore. Jats are only 5-6% of the total population of UP but they constitute 17% of the populace in the west UP and can affect elections in 55 assembly constituencies and 10 Lok Sabha constituencies. Besides UP and Rajasthan, Jats are already getting reservation under OBC category in Himachal Pradesh, Gujrat, Uttrakhand, Bihar and Delhi. However, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra have not included Jats in OBC list. Yashpal Malik, president, All India Jat Arakshan Samiti, welcomed Mayawati's move.

"Central government had promised us in March 27, 2011, that Jats will be included in the Central OBC list within a month but we are still waiting for result," said Malik, who led the 21-day agitation in March blocking rail and road routes from Delhi to UP and beyond. The samiti will launch its agitation again if demand is not met by November after conducting a series of rallies in UP and other states from October 1 onwards, he added. On Saturday, Mayawati had written to prime minister for providing quota to Muslims by bringing them under the reservation policy. She had stated that her party will support the central government if quota for Muslims requires constitutional amendment. On Saturday, she wrote to Manmohan Singh for granting reservation to upper castes living under below poverty line.

With three letters Mayawati has tried to strike balance between minorities, OBCs and upper castes with 2012 assembly elections in mind. While muslims constitute around 18% of the electorate in UP, upper castes are around 20% (10% Brahmins 7.5% thakurs and 3% others, OBCs around 40% and dalits around 21.5%. Of total upper castes, 12% are said to be living under below poverty line. In UP's OBC list, there are total 79 classes/castes which include 34 muslim communities.? ?Reacting to Maya's letter, BJP spokesperson HN Dixit said that it was BJP government in 2000 under Rajnath Singh which granted Jats status of OBC in UP.

Singh, he said, had also introduced quota within quota for OBC for most backward classes which included 33 muslim communities. However, in 2002, Mayawati government scrapped the provision, thus reduced the benefits of muslim OBCs.