Congress joined NC to end reservation of SCs, Paharis, Gujjars, OBCs: Rana

Jammu, Aug 24: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devender Singh Rana Saturday launched a direct verbal assault on Congress and National Conference (NC) stating that they entered into an alliance to scrap reservation of SCs, STs including Gujjar-Bakerwal and Paharis and OBCs in J&K.

He also took strong exception to the proposed change in the nomenclature of “Shankaracharya Hills as Takht-e-Suleman, Hari Parbat as Koh-e-Maraan” in NC manifesto, "aimed at pleasing a miniscule minority in Kashmir” and described it as an “assault on faith.”

While addressing a press conference here in Jammu, Rana asked Congress to clarify its stand if it wanted to deprive the Dalits, Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) of their constitutional right of reservation in J&K, which they earned after the abrogation of Article 370.

“This is my straight question to Congress - To serve its political interests, would it end reservation for these deprived sections, which they could get only after BJP ensured free flow of the Indian Constitution to J&K, post Article 370? If that’s so, let me remind – BJP is steadfast in its resolve to protect the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes – Gujjars-Bakerwals, Paharis and OBCs – Come what may. It (BJP) will never allow Congress to play with the destiny, future of these deprived communities and snatch their hard-earned rights after decades of struggle so as to dis-empower them,” he said.

He alleged that both the Congress and NC wanted to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of J&K yet again with their nefarious designs to serve their political interests.

“Congress has always played (with) and exploited the sentiments of people of J&K, particularly those from Jammu, to serve its own interests for greed of power. Of these deprived sections, some could get reservation only after the abrogation of Article 370. BJP will not allow its (Congress’) machinations to succeed and fritter away the gains in the form of peace and development post abrogation of Article 370.

“The Congress has again joined hands with the National Conference to further its agenda, which is reflected in the NC’s pro-Pakistan, pro-separatist, anti-J&K people and anti national manifesto, to repeal the reservation guaranteed to the SC, ST, Gujjars, Paharis and OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 as per Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar's Constitution,” he said.

Rana said the BJP would not allow this dubious design of the National Conference and its ally the Congress to dis-empower these segments in employment, education and space in politics.

“The BJP will protect the reservation to SCs, STs, Gujjars, Paharis and OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir at any cost,” Rana said.

He took the Congress head on for “aligning with the National Conference in the anti reservation plank, so much so that its national President Malikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi specially flew from New Delhi to Srinagar to ink alliance with the forces inimical to the Constitution.”

“Soon after unveiling of the divisive and anti people manifesto of the National Conference, the Congress leadership led by Gandhi scion took a sense of pride in endorsing the anti-reservation document by forging alliance with the party that has all along discriminated against the marginalized segments of society,” Rana said while assailing the National Conference for attempting to trample the time tested mechanism provided in the Babasaheb’s Constitution, guaranteeing equitable and fair share to the marginalized communities in jobs, education and political spectrum.

He reiterated that the BJP would foil all the machinations of the Congress and the National Conference to play with the rights of the reserved categories and would not hesitate in offering any sacrifice in upholding the constitutional guarantees to the members of SC, ST and OBC sections of the society. He described the move to scrap reservation as a step towards rolling back the progress registered over the years in the upliftment of these segments and undermining the social fabric across the country.

Rana said that achieving of “Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan”, as per the true spirit of Babasaheb’s Constitution remained an eyesore for the NC and the Congress, which was why they were targeting the marginalized communities.

He strongly criticized the NC and the Congress for polarizing the society and creating divisions for securing political mileage.

Rana said, “Whenever the two parties have come together, the marginalized people have remained at the receiving end. During their coalition governments in J&K from time to time, the Jammu region has always been discriminated against. BJP has, all along, been fighting discrimination with any segment of the society or any region.”

He also referred to change in the nomenclature of the world-famous Shankaracharya Hills in Srinagar as Takht-e-Suleman and Hari Parbhat as Kohe-Maran in the National Conference manifesto, and described this as direct assault on the faith and identity of a community.

“NC is playing with our identity, as Shankaracharya and Hari Parbhat are matters of faith for Sanatanis,” Rana said, questioning whether this move was to placate radicalized elements.

“The Congress should clear its stand on renaming of the most revered religious landmarks as Takht-e-Suleman and Koh-e- Maraan,” he added.

“Don’t play with our sentiments and identity of J&K people, mainly those from Jammu,” he cautioned while reiterating that NC’s manifesto was aimed at consolidating anti-national forces and Congress was its ally, as always in this nefarious design.

Senior party leaders Priya Sethi, Balbir Ram and Dr Pradeep Mahotra accompanied him in the presser.