CG News: Former minister Mohan Markam has spoken out about the recent cuts to reservations for backward classes in urban areas and the three-tier panchayat elections, calling it a clear injustice to the community. He questioned how it can be fair to have zero percent reservation for the group that makes up the largest population in the country. This comes in response to a statement from state chief Vishnudev Sai. Markam pointed out that the delay in announcing a 50 percent reservation for backward classes has led BJP supporters to cover the capital with banners expressing gratitude. He urged them to visit Bastar to see firsthand how little reservation benefit the backward classes are actually receiving. He emphasized that as the head of the state, Sai should avoid making statements that initially sound positive but ultimately leave the community feeling deceived.
Currently, in the reservation plan for the urban body and three-tier panchayat elections, backward classes in the Bastar division have received almost no reservation. If this isn’t injustice, then what is? Markam highlighted that this situation is undermining the rights of backward classes. In the last election, 6 out of 22 ward councillor seats in Kondagaon Nagar Palika were reserved for backward classes, but now there are only **3**. Farasgaon Nagar Panchayat has **zero percent** reserved seats, and Keshkal Nagar Panchayat has only **2**. Additionally, there is no reservation for district seats or ward panch seats in the Panchayat. This is a clear violation of the rights of backward class communities.
He accused the government of wanting to prevent backward classes from having representation, which would allow them to voice their concerns. The Congress government in Chhattisgarh had previously initiated a **27 percent reservation** for backward classes, which was passed by the assembly with a strong majority and sent to the Governor. However, the BJP-led central government seems to oppose this, keeping the reservation bill pending. Markam expressed full support for the protests, stating that the Congress party has consistently worked for the development of Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and backward classes, implementing various schemes for their upliftment. He criticized the BJP for revealing its true intentions through these reservation policies. The Congress party stands firmly with the backward classes in their struggles, asserting that the BJP is attempting to disrupt the unity among ST and SC communities.OBC class living in Bastar. We Bastar residents will not tolerate this at all. We are all one. This fight is not only of the backward class but it is our joint fight.
