BJP, Cong trade allegations over 27 pc OBC quota in MP

Bhopal, Jul 5 (PTI) The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday crossed swords over 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav blamed the Congress for legal complications stalling the implementation of such quota, whereas the opposition party said it had got in principle approval from Rahul Gandhi for a protest in Bundelkhand region on the issue.

The development came a day after the Supreme Court heard pleas related to 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in the state.

Around 49 per cent of MP's population are OBCs, with all BJP chief ministers since 2003 being from the category. The ruling party also accused the Congress of not giving OBCs their due when it came to appointments to the top post in the state.

The Congress will launch a statewide agitation to put pressure on the BJP to implement 27 per cent OBC quota, said state unit chief Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition in the assembly Umang Singhar.

The BJP has betrayed OBCs and had spent Rs 50 crore on legal teams to stall the implementation of this quota, Patwari alleged.

Almost 70 hearings have been held in the apex court and 20 in MP HC, during which private lawyers were hired at high cost, he further claimed.

Patwari and Singhar said the party would launch a phased protest at block, district and state levels within two days.

The caste census is part of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi's mission to empower OBCs, they said.

OBCs must reflect on which political party is truly working for their welfare, the two leaders said.

Talking to reporters, CM Yadav said the BJP government was committed to giving 27 per cent quota to OBCs, whereas the Congress had announced such a move without proper groundwork or data, which led to legal complications.

"Our government will bring a bill in the Assembly based on factual data. We are committed to delivering 27 percent reservation. The Congress also wants to take credit for caste census, while it is Prime Minister Modi who has initiated the process. The Congress was in power for decades but never undertook such an exercise," Yadav said.

The Congress never made an OBC the chief minister of the state, he pointed out.

On June 28, Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, lamented the non-implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Baghel, for CM of Chhattisgarh, had said the Supreme Court had made it clear there were no judicial restrictions on implementing the quota. PTI LAL BNM