Empty Promises: BJP Hits Out At Arvind Kejriwal On Jat Reservation Issue

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal for his demand to include the Jaat community in the central OBC list. BJP claims this is a tactic to distract from pressing issues before the Delhi assembly elections. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, a BJP Lok Sabha MP, stated that the AAP government has not addressed this matter in the state assembly over the past decade.

Sehrawat emphasised that granting reservations falls under the state's jurisdiction. He mentioned that Kailash Gahlot had informed former Delhi CM Kejriwal multiple times about including Delhi's Jaat community in central reservations. According to Sehrawat, Kejriwal's administration is a key reason for the exclusion of Delhi's Jaats from central reservations.

Jaat Community and Political Promises

Kejriwal recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to add Delhi's Jaat community to the Centre's OBC list. He accused the BJP-led central government of misleading the community regarding OBC reservations for a decade. Kejriwal highlighted that while Delhi's OBC list includes Jaats, they are absent from the Centre's list, affecting their university admissions.

New Delhi Municipal Council Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal accused Kejriwal of using Jaat reservation as an election slogan. Chahal claimed that AAP has done nothing for Delhi's Jaats over ten years. He challenged Kejriwal to an open debate if any contributions were made for the community during this period.

Political Dynamics Ahead of Elections

The upcoming Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting on February 8. The nomination deadline is January 17, followed by scrutiny on January 18 and withdrawal by January 20. The contest involves AAP, BJP, and Congress. Congress, once dominant in Delhi, has faced setbacks in recent elections.

Kejriwal alleged that despite being on Delhi's OBC list, Jaats face discrimination at central institutions like DU due to their absence from the Centre's list. He recalled promises made by PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to include them in the Centre's OBC list.

BJP's Response and Election Context

Chahal asserted that Jaats in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana support BJP and stand with PM Modi. He accused Kejriwal of using election slogans to divert attention whenever involved in issues. This political exchange comes amid preparations for a three-way electoral battle between AAP, BJP, and Congress.

Kejriwal questioned why Rajasthan’s Jaats receive DU reservations while those from Delhi do not. He argued that thousands of children from Delhi’s Jaat community miss out on DU admissions due to their exclusion from the Centre’s OBC list.

AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections with 62 out of 70 seats, while BJP secured eight seats. Congress failed to win any seat after ruling Delhi for 15 years consecutively before facing defeats in recent elections.