OBC Department Meeting: Strengthening Representation and Social Justice in J&K

A meeting of the OBC Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) was held at the Congress Party headquarters on February 4, 2024, under the chairmanship of Madan Lal Chalotra, Chairman of the OBC Department, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee. The meeting witnessed the presence of key leaders, including Darshan Mehra, General Secretary of the OBC Department, JKPCC; Capt Karan Jeet Singh and Darshan Verma, Vice Chairmen of the OBC Department, JKPCC; Advocate Suresh Dogra, former Chairman OBC Department; along with Jagdish Kashyap, Prem Sagar, Susheel Panday, Ajay Kashyap, Jank Raj Mehra, and Ghulam Hussan, who serves as Joint Secretary of the OBC Department, JKPCC.

The leaders extended their gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for raising issues concerning the OBC community in Parliament. They assured him that they would leave no stone unturned in fulfilling his vision of social justice. The leaders emphasized that the current political scenario presents a unique opportunity as central and state-level concerns align, making this the right time to strengthen the Congress Party in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the meeting, the discussion centered around the implementation of constitutional provisions 243 D(6) and 243 T(6), which ensure adequate representation of OBCs in local governance structures. It was pointed out that government officials were not effectively executing these provisions, leading to systemic neglect of the community’s rights. The leaders also stressed the urgent need for a caste-based survey in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure fair representation and prevent any deviation from the rightful allocation of political and social opportunities to OBCs.

A notable feature of this meeting was the virtual participation of several OBC leaders who could not attend physically. A total of 38 members were present, including those who joined through the virtual platform. This virtual session was coordinated by State Coordinator Amit Mehra, introducing a new and innovative approach to discussions under the chairmanship of Madan Lal Chalotra.

Darshan Mehra emphasized the need to expand outreach efforts and connect with OBC communities across Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that the time had come for increased participation of OBCs in every sphere of politics, asserting that collective strength would lead to progress.