CONGRESS SUBMITS MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNOR, DEMANDS PREVENTION OF WEAKENING OF THE BASIC SENSE OF SC ST ACT

Chandigarh, April 2.: Led by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Mr. Sunil Jakhar, a deputation today met Punjab Governor Mr. VP Singh Badnore here and submitted a memorandum urging the Union Govt to safeguard the interests of SC ST community in the country.

Besides Mr. Sunil Jakhar, Cabinet Minister Mr. Tripit Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharmsot, Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary, SC cell Chairman and MLA Mr. Raj Kumar Chabbebal, MLA Mr. Navtej Singh Cheema, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Mr. Pragat Singh, Mr. Raj Kumar Verka, Mr. Pawan Adiya, Mr. Amit Vij, Mr. Barinderjeet Singh Pahra were part of the deputation.

Speaking to the media later Mr. Jakhar said that the NDA government headed by Mr. Narendra Modi deliberately avoided pursuing the case of SC ST in the Apex court. As the case has not been prosecuted properly, the spirit of the original Act got weakened and ultimately, this may make the law void. “Had the Central government presented the case befittingly in the Apex Court, it would not have happened. The government deliberately sent a junior law officer instead of Attorney General for the prosecution in this case and the incumbent could not put the case properly, this triggered unrest among SC/STs, he observed.

Mr. Jakhar said that with this phenomenon, the anti SC ST face of NDA government stands exposed. “The history of NDA government in the last four years proves that this government intentionally did this so that weaker section of society could further be tricked out. It is the basic duty of any democratic government to protect the interests of the backward classes, but the Modi government has not proved to be fair on this score. Most of the time it visibly appeared acting against the interests of the weaker sections of society, he said, adding that this phenomenon is country-wide and in the last four years, there has been increase in incidents of oppression against SC ST communities across the country. Jakhar assured the weaker sections of society that the Congress party will always stand by them.

Referring to the post-Matric scholarship scheme for the SCST students, he said that the Modi Govt had slashed the budget for the said welfare scheme by 10 percent than the last year which reflects its intention and anti SC ST-policy.