As Gujarat polls are expected to be held by December, the BJP is holding a major meeting of Other Backward Classes (OBC) at Fagavel in the State on Monday to address the issues faced by them and their urgent resolution by the Government .
The meeting in the Kheda district of Gujarat would signal continuation of BJP’s focus to win over OBCs in the country and counter Patidar community agitation in the State.
BJP President Amit Shah would address the meeting which would be one of the largest OBC conclaves in the State, according to BJP General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who is also State-in-charge of the party.The gathering would be attended by 146 OBC communities, he said.
Some of the lesser-known OBCs in Gujarat include Ahir Ayar- Boricha , Ahir Sorathia, Choudhury, Panchal , lingyats, Barot,Vahivancha- Charan-Gadhvi, Bafan (Muslim), lodha, Mer and Kolis. Besides, there are Bawa , Atit Bawa, Goswami, Vairagi Bava, Gosai, Dashnam Goswami, Ramanandi Bawa, Ramanandi Sadhu, Puri, Bharti, Kapdi, Nath Bawa, Bharathari, Margi, Gangajalia, Dashnami Bawa and Giri.
According to the 1931 caste census, OBCs formed 40 percent of Gujarat’s population.As the BJP prepares for the Gujarat polls, the OBC ‘Sammelan’ would discuss ways to consolidate party’s OBC base in the State as it faces its main rival Congress in the poll contest.
In 2015, Gujarat’s economically and politically powerful Patel community demanded reservation in Government jobs and education. The agitation was led by 22-year-old Hardik Patel who campaigned against BJP’s Gujarat Government. Patel’s demand was opposed by the OBC leaders.
Shah, who would extensively interact with OBC leaders in the meetings on September 18 at Fagavel, would also address a meeting of cooperatives at Gandhi Nagar on the same day. Fagvel village is 35 km from Ahmedabad.
The Modi Government recently approved a constitutional amendment which introduces a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes in the Constitution, despite Opposition parties claiming certain clauses affected the federal structure of the country.
The Bill for granting constitutional status to the Commission was passed by the lok Sabha but in the Rajya Sabha Opposition forced some amendment to the Bill. The Amended Bill will now have to be returned to the lok Sabha for its fresh approval. The lower House had already passed the bill but in the Upper House it had been referred to a Select Committee as the Opposition had wanted more scrutiny.
The amendment facilitates a five-member panel with several duties, including investigating and monitoring matters regarding safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes, inquiring into specific complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards, advising on their socio-economic development, and submitting reports on the working of the safeguards.
The constitutional amendment also empowers the President to specify communities which would fall under backward class for States and Union Territories, in consultation with the concerned Governor.
The BJP’s move to make the OBC commission into a constitutional body is seen as a political move to woo the community in the country in its favour.
“Congress had for decades cheated on the rights of OBCs,” claimed a BJP leader and referred to BJP’s step to back OBCs in the country against that backdrop.