Sun, Jan 28, 2024
Sun, Jan 28, 2024
ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R The issue of reservation for other backward classes seems to have become a big thorn in the flesh for the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.
Even as the issue of 27 per cent reservation for the communities in panchayat polls has not yet been resolved fully, OBC organisations and activists have taken strong objection to the provision of only 14 per cent seats for OBCs in the state quota MBBS/BDS seats under NEET UG 2021-based admissions by the MP government.
From office bearers of the OBC Mahasabha to national-level activists like Dilip Mandal have pointed out that while the Supreme Court has given a go ahead to 27 per cent OBC reservation in all India quota seats of NEET UG/PG 2021, the state government is playing with the interests of OBCs by providing them only 14 per cent reservation in state quota seats.
Founder president of OBC Mahasabha, Dharmendra Singh Kushwah tweeted images of an MP government listing showing 14 per cent OBC quota in MBBS seats (under NEET UG 2021) and a screenshot of Chief Minister Chouhan's old tweet expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in NEET. He said in the tweet, “Have you seen such a person and such a government anywhere anytime? On one hand the 27 per cent reservation decision of Narendra Modi is being welcomed and on the other Shivraj government is giving only 14 per cent reservation to OBCs.”
Other office bearers of the OBC Mahasabha, including its patron Mahendra Singh Lodhi, also posted similar views on social media. A hashtag 'OBC-virodhi-Shivraj' (anti-OBC Shivraj) was used with the numerous posts.
Activist Dilip Mandal posted a series of tweets on the issue. “Shivraj Singh Chouhan is acting against the interests of the OBCs. Despite all his promises, in medical and dental admissions he is providing only 14 per cent OBC quota for 52 per cent population. OBCs in Madhya Pradesh should protest. Stop Savarna Appeasement,” Mandal said in one of the tweets.
He pointed out in another tweet that while the OBCs were being given only 14 per cent reservation, the Shivraj Singh government had made sure to give 10 per cent seats to economically weaker sections (EWS) within the general category, which amounts to cheating of OBC people.
The all India quota makes for 15 per cent of undergraduate (MBBS/BDS) and 50 per cent postgraduate medical seats in the government colleges across the country and are open to all students of the country. Rest of the 85 per cent UG and 50 per cent PG seats fall under state quota and are meant for the students domiciled in particular states.
In a recent decision, the Supreme Court gave a go ahead to 27 per cent quota in All India seats under NEET 2021 after a prolonged legal battle. Also 10 per cent seats for EWS was cleared by the apex court. According to the SC order, 15 per cent seats under the all India quota are to be reserved for scheduled caste (SC) candidates while 7.5 per cent seats are for scheduled tribe (ST) candidates.
However, in the case of state quota seats in Madhya Pradesh, 20 per cent seats are reserved for STs, 16 per cent for SCs and 14 per cent for OBCs, according to the standing reservation pattern in the educational institutes of the state.
Chairman of the MP State OBC Commission and Congress spokesman J.P. Dhanopia said since the ST and SC reservation total to 36 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, the state government is hiding behind the 50 per cent cap to horizontal reservation (SC+ST+OBC) to deny 27 per cent reservation to OBCs.
“But that hasn't stopped them from giving 10 per cent reservation to EWS that takes total reservation to 60 per cent. The state government should take effective steps – like getting 27 per cent reservation included in the 9th schedule of the Indian Constitution to ensure rights of the OBC people. States like Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have already done this. What stops the BJP government in MP?,” Dhanopia asked.
State urban administration minister Bhupendra Singh, who has been given responsibility to speak out on the OBC issue by the government, could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.
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