Punjab Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday said that it was the primary responsibility of the society to accord deep respect and honour to the political and social aspirations of vimukt jatis (denotified tribes) who fought for the freedom of the country.
Majithia, while addressing a meeting of leaders of vimukt jatis, also reiterated that the SAD-BJP Government is fully committed to protect the rights and interests of vimukt jatis.
Terming the vimukt jatis as an integral part of the society, who never yielded to the British imperialism and always fought the tag of criminal tribes act, Majithia said that they had made numerous sacrifices to the cause of country’s freedom.
On the occasion, a demand charter was also handed over to S. Majithia besides detailed deliberations on the issues and demands of denotified tribes.
The demands included scrapping the conditions on two percent reservation quota given to denotified tribes for government jobs and promotions or merging the denotified tribes in 56 percent quota of SC, BC community, reserving two seats in Vidhan Sabha for denotified tribes, separate budget for welfare of denotified tribes and allotting of space along with speedy construction of Vimukt Jati Bhawan in Amritsar.
Majithia said that the state government is always ready to address these issues and demands with utmost sincerity. He also assured to place the demands before the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and their satisfactory solution.
He said that it is only Chief Minister Badal who has taken steps for the benefit of denotified tribes and has formed Punjab State Vimukt Jatian Welfare Board for addressing their demands and problems and catering to their needs besides giving due representation to leaders belonging to denotified tribes in both the Government and the party.
Regarding reservation policy, Majithia said that it was a big and countrywide issue in legal, political and social terms and certain issues of reservation policy do not come under State Government but are connected with the subjects under the purview of the Union Government making it a legally complex matter.
“It would require the support of 33 percent of population belonging to other dalit castes in order to bring the matter to a solution point,” he said adding that Chief Minister Badal was leaving no stone unturned to solve the issue by holding parleys with the concerned parties. The leaders of denotified tribes, on the occasion, pledged their unconditional support to the SAD in the coming assembly elections and work tirelessly for the victory of SAD-BJP candidates.