- OBCs must be given 27 percent quota in local panchayat bodies because they comprise more than 50 percent of the state’s population: Senior MLA Amit Chavda
- Under the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 10 percent seats are reserved for the OBC community in gram panchayat elections.
NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, SEP 22
The hallmark of the democracy is that the main opposition party has to play its vital role of raising the voice of the oppressed and checkmate the ruling party with its constructive suggestions. In contrast to this, the Congress was stalled from doing its democratic duty for the second consective day in the Vidhansabha on Thursday.
વિધાનસભા ગૃહમાં ચોમાસા સત્રનો આજે બીજો અને અંતિમ દિવસ
વિપક્ષે ગ્રામપંચાયતમાં 10 અનામત રદ કરવાનો મુદ્દો ઉઠાવ્યો
સરકાર OBCને અનામત આપવા નથી માગતી: અમિત ચાવડા
વસ્તીના આધારે નિર્ણય લેવામાં આવે :અમિત ચાવડા#GujaratAssembly #MonsoonSession #OBC @INCGujarat @AmitChavdaINC #GujaratFirst pic.twitter.com/3DjiGSCJOg— Gujarat First (@GujaratFirst) September 22, 2022
Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani and around nine Congress legislators were suspended for a day from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly for rushing into the well of the House and shouting slogans to demand a discussion on the OBC reservation on Thursday, the last day of the session.
Some of these MLAs were even evicted by marshals as they refused to leave the House despite suspension. Following the suspension and eviction, all the remaining Congress MLAs staged a brief walkout, as they returned after some time to take part in the discussion on bills.
Humility and Harmony will overcome Hate.#BharatJodoYatra pic.twitter.com/HXcu6zzxMW
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 21, 2022
When the House was discussing a bill regarding the Gujarat National Law University, senior Congress MLA Baldevji Thakor suddenly demanded a discussion on reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the panchayat bodies.
After Speaker Nimaben Acharya did not accept Thakor’s demand, Jignesh Mevani rushed towards the well. He was followed by Thakor and some other MLAs, including Vimal Chudasama, Raghu Desai and Vikram Madam.
અરે..આ #ઉજ્જવલા_જળ_યોજના ક્યારે ચાલુ થઈ? #PriceHike #Gas_Diesel_Petrol #SystemLoot pic.twitter.com/Xkr8KarT2z
— Dr.Manish Doshi (@drmanishdoshi) September 21, 2022
While nearly 10 MLAs sat in the well of the House, other legislators of the party, who came with placards, raised “Give OBCs, 27 percent reservation” and “We demand caste-based census” slogans.
Irked over this sudden protest by the Congress, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Trivedi, urged the speaker to take action against the “unruly” Congress MLAs.
The success of the Yatra is based on three ideas. India that stands united is not angry with itself, the level of unemployment is devastating and the prices of essentials are skyrocketing.
:Shri @RahulGandhi #BharatJodoYatrapic.twitter.com/aawnbH3Zg4— Congress (@INCIndia) September 22, 2022
The speaker then ordered suspension of those nine to 10 MLAs, including Thakor and Mevani, who were in the well. Since some of them refused to go out, marshals evicted them using force.
यदि आप शांति और अमन की बात करोगे तो सरकार आपको असम भेजेगी, बाबा साहब अंबेडकर के नाम पर हॉल की मांग करोगे तो 6 महीने की जेल मिलेगी और विधानसभा में जब आप कर्मचारियों के शोषण की बात रखना चाहोगे तो आपको विधानसभा से बाहर कर दिया जाएगा।
गुजरात सरकार की यह बौखलाहट नहीं तो क्या? pic.twitter.com/sb5wETl21v
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 22, 2022
Talking to reporters afterwards, senior MLA Amit Chavda said OBCs must be given 27 percent quota in local panchayat bodies because they comprise more than 50 percent of the state’s population.
મારા સાથી ધારાસભ્યશ્રી @GulabsinhRajput છેલ્લા પાંચ દિવસથી તેઓના મતવિસ્તારના પડતર પ્રશ્નોને લઇ આમરણ ઉપવાસ પર ઉતરેલ છે. એમની તબયત સતત ખરાબ થઇ રહી છે. સરકારશ્રીને વિનંતી કે એમની માંગણીઓનો હકારાત્મક જવાબ આપી એમના અનશન નો અંત લાવે. pic.twitter.com/JfckaKno0T
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 22, 2022
“We have learnt that officials are providing false data about the OBC population in the state. This will further eliminate OBCs from the electoral system. Thus, apart from the 27 per cent quota, we also demand a caste-based census before the quota is finalised. But the BJP government was not ready for a discussion in the Assembly on this very important issue,” Chavda alleged.
Got suspended for second consecutive day in the two-day monsoon session of Gujarat assembly. We wanted a discussion on caste based census for the welfare of SC/ST, OBC & minorities. Instead of having a discussion, we were suspended from the house for raising the issue. pic.twitter.com/6b9WM2BvvZ
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 22, 2022
The BJP government in the state had formed a dedicated commission in July to collect and analyse data about the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies, an exercise necessary for fixing OBC quota in panchayat polls.
The commission, formed as per the directives of the Supreme Court, is headed by retired Gujarat High Court Judge K S Jhaveri.
Earlier this month, delegations from the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress had submitted representations to the panel, which was formed to look into the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies to decide on reservation for OBCs.
Under the Gujarat Panchayats Act, 10 percent seats are reserved for the OBC community in gram panchayat elections.
