The Impressive TimesNEW DELHI, January 13, 2025: In a scathing rebuke to the BJP’s decade-long neglect of reservation promises, a delegation of the Jat community met AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, expressing gratitude for his letter to the Prime Minister demanding inclusion of Delhi’s Jats in the Centre’s OBC list.
Calling the exclusion as injustice, Arvind Kejriwal pledged full support to the Jat community’s legitimate demand, while International Duhan Khap Chief Satpal Singh Duhan lauded Arvind Kejriwal as a man whose words are “written in stone.” Senior AAP leaders Dr. Sushil Gupta and Anurag Dhandha, along with Jat representatives, convened a meeting highlighting growing anger over BJP’s unfulfilled commitments.
In a press conference, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “Today, dozens of Jat leaders came to meet me to express their gratitude for the letter I wrote to the Prime Minister. In the letter, I reminded the Prime Minister of the assurance he gave in 2015 to the Delhi’s Jat community. PM Modi had promised that while Delhi’s Jat community is included in Delhi’s OBC list, it is not in the central OBC list, and that it would be added to the central list as well.”
The AAP Supremo continued, “This issue can be understood very simply with one example: in Delhi University or its affiliated colleges, Jats from Rajasthan get reservation benefits, but Jats from Delhi do not. What could be a greater disparity than this?”
Arvind Kejriwal mentioned, “To address this, the Prime Minister gave his assurance to the Delhi’s Jat community in 2015. Later, in 2017, 2019, and 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also assured the Delhi’s Jat community about this. However, it is deeply painful to note that despite these assurances from the country’s top leader and its second-most senior leader, the promises remain unfulfilled.”
He pointed out, “BJP leaders frequently abuse me, and I have no issue with their abuses. They can continue as much as they want. All I ask is one simple question: When will Delhi’s Jat community, already included in Delhi’s OBC list, be added to the central OBC list?”
The AAP Chief noted that during the election period, the Prime Minister will visit Delhi from time to time, deliver speeches, and address rallies. “I request the Prime Minister to respond to this question: When will the promise he made in 2015 and the assurances given by his Home Minister in 2017, 2019, and 2022 to Delhi’s Jat community be fulfilled? When will they include Delhi’s Jat community in the central OBC list?” Asked Arvind Kejriwal.
Prime Minister and Home Minister had assured reservation for the Jat community in the OBC category, but the promise remains unfulfilled: Satpal Singh Duhan
International Duhan Khap President Satpal Singh Duhan stated that his discussion with Arvind Kejriwal was held in a very cordial atmosphere. He said, “Since 2004, we have been demanding the inclusion of the Jat community in the central OBC list. Several governments have come and gone during this time. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also assured us of reservation for the Jat community in the OBC category, but their promises were not fulfilled.”
He further added, “While, every word spoken by Arvind Kejriwal is considered a commitment. The promises he made to the people of Delhi were fulfilled, which is why the public entrusted him as the Chief Minister of Delhi. He has never discriminated based on caste or religion and has always worked in the best interest of the people of Delhi.
Satpal Singh Duhan said, “Today, our Khap representatives came to meet him on very short notice. People trust Arvind Kejriwal’s words as final. Whatever he promises, he delivers. Many Prime Ministers and governments have changed over the years, including state governments, but none took concrete steps for the welfare of our community. Arvind Kejriwal has assured the Jat community and our Khap leadership that whether or not his government is formed, whether we vote for him or not, he will fight for the Jat community’s cause till his last breath and stand by us in our struggle.”
He highlighted the Jat community’s primary demand, “Children from other states who come to Delhi can easily access admissions in schools and hospitals here, but the children from our community in Delhi are deprived of these rights. Our main demand today was to secure our rightful access to these facilities. Earlier, during the Jat community’s movements in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in 2016, demands were made for rights that remain unaddressed.”
“We appealed to Arvind Kejriwal to lead the fight for the entire Jat community across India. Kejriwal, even before we asked, was prepared to take up this battle and assured us that he would fight for the Jat community’s rights till his last breath,” concluded Satpal Singh Duhan.
No Comments: