Joshi honoured as Gorkha Brahmins included in OBC

Tribune News Service

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Mussoorie, June 12

Members of the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha felicitated Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi at a function held at the sabha auditorium in Gadi Cantt for working tirelessly in getting Brahmin and Kshatriya communities again included in the Other Backward Caste (OBC) category of the Gorkhali community in the state.

The Gorkhali community was given the OBC status when Uttarakhand was formed but the state government through an order on May I6 excluded Brahmins and Kshatriyas from the OBC list. Joshi, when informed, immediately wrote a letter to the Governor on May 25, demanding quashing of the order. The Governor in his letter to the government directed officials concerned to remove the clause and include all members of the community in the OBC list. The Social Welfare Department rectified the anomaly without delay. Col BS Kshetri (retd), president of the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha, honoured Joshi with a bouquet and a shawl during the felicitation ceremony yesterday.

He said it was due to Joshi’s efforts that injustice done by excluding Brahmins and Kshatriyas from the OBC list was rectified. Joshi also played an active role in collecting relief for Nepalese citizens last year when Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake. Joshi presented six computers and 10 sewing machines to the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha on the occasion.

He lambasted the state government for trying to divide the community on caste lines with an intention to garner votes. He lauded the community members for staying united and countering the nefarious designs of the government.

Vice-president of the sabha Sunil Thapa, president of the women cell of the sabha Sarika Pradhan, Manoj Kshetri and Sunil Gurung Sonam Kshetri were present on the occasion.