Congress OBC council flags underrepresentation of backward communities in bureaucracy, media

Bengaluru: The Congress party’s OBC Advisory Council Meet on Tuesday Tuesday expressed concern over the continued underrepresentation of backward communities in key sectors such as the bureaucracy, media, and corporate world.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, discussed a range of issues related to the upliftment of deprived and marginalised communities.

The council also lauded Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for championing the cause of OBCs and consistently raising issues affecting the community.

“Congress party, our president Mallikarjun Kharge and our Nyaya Yoddha Rahul Gandhi are fighting for the deprived sections of our society,” the Congress OBC department head Anil Jaihind told reporters after the meeting.

He said, “It’s a tragedy that 90 per cent of our Indian population of OBC, SC and ST are being marginalised. They are not in bureaucracy, media and in the capital world. These things are repeatedly highlighted by our Nyaya Yoddya Rahul Gandhi.” The Congress’ OBC advisory council was recently formed and Jaihind is its convener for being the chairman of the OBC department of the Congress.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, “I am making it very clear that the BJP was never in favour of social justice and reservations and they are never in favour of inclusive development of the population of this country." He further said there is inequality among the people across India and whenever the Congress brings programmes for social justice, reservation and equality for the deprived communities, the BJP has a history of opposing it.

In the keynote address during the OBC meeting, which was shared with media, the CM highlighted the role of Congress in strengthening democracy.

“At this crucial juncture in our nation’s journey, when the forces of division and sectarianist privileged classes are sharpening their knives against the principles of equality and fraternity, it becomes our duty to strengthen the foundation of social democracy in India,” he said.

Siddaramaiah underscored that this was not a fight for reservation to Backward Classes alone but for recognition, dignity, and power of these classes.