Minister’s statement draws flak, BJP leader terms it empty talk

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 14

A fierce speech by Punjab Forest and Social Justice Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti on Sunday reinforced the state government’s commitment to implement the 85th Amendment to the Constitution to facilitate reservation in promotions.

Dharamsot’s speech came 18 months after the state Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had asserted his government’s commitment to implement the 85th Amendment Act at the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar on April 14. While this has been a common demand within the Dalit community, the minister’s statement, however, met with scepticism from Dalit leaders and the Opposition.

Dalit activist Chandan Grewal said: “The speech was given at a function where we weren’t even present. I wasn’t invited. We have been demanding the implementation of the 85th Amendment Act but so far, the government has been unresponsive. The issue was raised last year and a minister also raised it this year but these declarations are made during the anniversary of Guru Ravidas, on Valmiki Jayanti, Dr Ambedkar’s anniversary or other such events and then quickly forgotten. Local MLA Sushil Rinku had also raised the issue with the CM, but the problem is that nothing has happened on ground-level to give us an impression that the government is serious.”

“Policies of the state and the Centre regarding Dalits have steeped students into a crisis. As lakhs of students suffer, the Centre and states shift responsibility on each other over non providing the benefits of the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme. We are also planning protests to get the scheme implemented in the coming days. On all these issues, we ask the government to walk the talk,” he added.

SAD leader and former MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu said: “The Congress has failed in proper implementation of the PMS scheme. The Congress has sidelined Dalits in the PMS scheme and various other placements. Many similar statements have been made in the past but never implemented. Given the previous track record of Social Welfare Minister, he has no right to give the statement.”

BJP leader and former MLA KD Bhandari said: “The minister has typically been making such statements at Dalit events. It is an empty talk, devoid of practical implementation scheme. As far as the criticism of the Centre by the Congress is concerned, the entire county knows the Union Government and the Prime Minister have done everything in their power. Under the Congress, issuance of roll numbers of many students was stalled under PMS scheme. The new statement is another sop.”

What the minster said on Sunday 

If Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh cannot announce the 85th Amendment, no one can. Punjab Forest and Social Justice Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said the state government would provide reservation to Dalits in promotion.

What CM said last year 

During an event to commemorate Dr BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary last year, the Chief Minister had urged his MLAs to ensure that the SC/ST Act wasn’t diluted and asserted his government’s commitment to implement the 85th Amendment Act.