Requests Commission to declare atleast Ramgarh, Suchetgarh constituencies as ‘Open’
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: All India Jat Maha Sabha (AIJMS) on Monday called on the Delimitation Commission headed by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai and sought de-reservation of constituencies having majority of Jat population, and submitted a memorandum of demands to the visiting members of the aforesaid panel.
Ch Manmohan Singh President AIJMS J&K led the delegation which met the Delimitation Commission and raised concern of Jat community.
He said that all border constituencies from Kathua to Mendhar were reserved by the Delimitation Commission whether it is Kathua, Hiranagar, Samba, Bishnah, Ramgarh, Suchetgarh, Marh, Khour, etc leaving no scope for the Jat community in the polls.
Talking particularly of Ramgarh Constituency, Ch Manmohan Singh said that AIJMS was seeking similar kind of border constituency but by reserving the same, the aforesaid panel has dashed the hopes of Jats because their last chance to have representation in UT’s Legislature has also been snatched away through this move thus mocking at the demand of the community.
He said that the Delimitation panel has also did injustice with Jats of Suchetgarh, which was first disbanded and merged with some other constituency and after protests and objections it was restored but to the surprise for entire Jat community it was also reserved as if the aforesaid Commission is here to exclusively single out the Jats showing prejudice and discrimination of the level next.
He said that traditionally this is a Jat seat and by this great disfavor to the community, the Delimitation Commission has brazenly shown that it is against the community and hell-bent to muzzle its voice in the entire UT of J&K.
Ch Manmohan appealed to the Delimitation Commission to de-reserve two constituencies including Suchetgarh and Ramgarh out of four to provide fair chance to Jat community people. Ch Manmohan Singh said that Ramgarh Constituency is a newly formed constituency and people of Hirnagar and Samba (part) are suffering since last 25 -30 years due to reservation and now again they are going to be reserved for future which is unfair especially for Jats.
He said that the two Panchayats namely Katli and Dheyani of Hirnagar have been shifted to Ramgarh Constituency with an aim to provide benefit to a particular community. He said that Ramgarh seat is a fit case for an open constituency as majority of people there belonged to open category. He said that this new arrangement will put an end to their representation for generations to come and therefore the Ramgarh constituency should be de-reserved for the justice sake.
“In the same context, Gurha Slathia area which was a part of Vijaypur constituency geographically and logically has now been added in Samba constituency illogically to benefit some class or individuals which is a questionable move”, he said, adding that the proposed changes have marginalized the jat community to an extent that there is no scope for the jat leaders to step in Assembly or Lok Sabha which is discriminatory by all means.
The delegation comprised of Brigadier Pawan Sauntra, Vice President AIJMS J&K; Col. S.R Choudhary, Advisor AIJMS J&K; Sarpanch Reena Choudhary, District President Mahila Wing AIJMS Samba and Sarpanch Gurdeep Kaur, District President Mahila Wing Jammu Rural AIJMS Jammu.
Brigadier Pawan Sauntra, Vice President AIJMS J&K said that the Delimitation Commission has merged traditionally Jat represented constituency of Suchetgarh with RS Pura. This constituency has given us four times MsLA and a RS MP.
“This merger had hurt all Jats which led to sporadic agitations, processions, public meetings and anger against the Delimitation Commission during February and March for the injustice done to us. There were major issues with other few constituencies too which were directly affecting our community as a whole for future,” he added.
Col. S.R Choudhary requested the Commission to reconsider at least two constituencies namely Ramgarh and Suchetgarh as ‘Open’.
Sarpanch Reena Choudhary, District President Mahila Wing AIJMS Samba appealed to the Commission members to look into grievances of people on ground so that they would also participate in the upcoming elections.
Sarpanch Balbir Kour described the report of Delimitation Commission as discriminatory which has ignored Jatt community with regard to political representation. She asserted that the Election Commission of India has left the aspirations of the entire Jat community and the farmers on the behest of ruling government in the Centre.