Congress Government In MP Thinks ‘Backward’: Post Loan-Waiver, Passes Ordinance To Hike OBC Reservation To 27 Per Cent

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has promulgated an ordinance which will raise the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state from 14 to 27 per cent, reports The Indian Express. Governor Anandiben Patel has also signed the ordinance, which was published in the official gazette on Saturday (9 March 2019).

The ordinance makes an amendment to the Madhya Pradesh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Anusuchit Jan Jatioyon aur Anya Pichhade Vargon Ke Liye Arakshan) Adhiniyam, 1994.

Chief Minister Kamal Nath had announced his intention to move forward with the move on 6 March in Sagar while he was handing out farm loan waiver certificates.

The previous break-up of reservation in the state was 20 per cent for Scheduled Tribes, 16 per cent for Scheduled Castes and 14 per cent for OBCs.

OBCs make up an estimated 52 per cent of the state’s population and had long demanded a hike in their quota to reflect their numbers.

BJP MP from Bhopal, Alok Sanjar, asserted that the move was made with an eye on electoral gains. On the other hand, Congress spokesperson Abhay Dubey stated that despite being in power for 15 years, the BJP had not thought about the OBCs. “The BJP cannot accuse a 76-day-old government of bringing something in a hurry when it did nothing for three terms,” he remarked.

A Congress leader claimed that the BJP might make an attempt to obstruct the implementation of the ordinance by putting someone forward to challenge it in court.