SC, ST Organisations to 'gherao' J K Assembly on Feb 4

Jammu, Jan 21 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir state unit of the All India Confederation of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) organisations would 'gherao' the ongoing Assembly session on February 4 demanding amendment of the reservation act in the state.

President of the confederation R K Kalsotra today said the decision was taken in a meeting held here. The state government was causing undue delay in the introduction of amendment bill of reservation act under SRO 294, Mr Kalsotra told UNI, adding that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had assured the introduction of the bill in the house but despite his intervention, no green light was given by the state government.

''We demanded restoration of backlog in recruitments and promotions, enhancement of reservation in promotions for SCs from four per cent to eight per cent and in case of STs, it should exceed from five per cent to ten per cent,'' he said. Issuance of caste-based certificates in case of OBCs along with the maintenance of the based seniority were among other demands of the backward organisations.

He said various SC and ST organisations and associations, apart from social units, have extended full support to participate in thousands in the march towards the Civil Secretariat and to 'gherao' the Assembly session on February 4 for the introduction of the amendment bill (Reservation Act/SRO 294).

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