Centre accused of disbanding OBC panel

The Opposition on Friday accused the Centre of disbanding the OBC commission. In response, the government said that it does not have any plans to reverse the decision on providing quota to Dalits and OBCs.

Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramgopal Yadav said the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was set up after a Supreme Court order in 1992, has been disbanded instead of being given constitutional status.

He said the commission is to be replaced by a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NSEBC) and that the move is part of a larger “conspiracy” to do away with reservation.

The SP MPs were joined in by MPs from other Opposition parties in demanding an immediate response from the government. SP MPs also rushed into the Well of the House and shouted anti-government slogans, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes.

Without directly taking the name of the RSS, Yadav said the move was guided by the philosophy of the ruling party’s “fountainhead” that reservation should end. “Backward classes feel cheated,” he said, adding that backward communities like Yadavs, Kurmis, Lodhas and Kushwaha, who have made some social progress, are being removed from the OBC list. Social Justice Minister Tawarchand Gehlot refuted the allegations, saying Prime Minister Narenda Modi has repeatedly assured that the constitutional position of reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs will continue.

“Since the time of the Jan Sangh, we have been a supporter of reservation to these communities and will continue to be a supporter,” he said.

Gehlot said the government has taken a decision to give constitutional status to the commission for OBCs and it will get the same rights as commission for SC and STs.