JUNE 1,
1982 Editorial: “Mandal Commission Report: Are the OBCs Ready to Die for it?”
Twelve percent of Hindu upper castes are enjoying 88% of the benefits of India’s progress and 88% of the “low castes” are grudgingly given only 18% of the share, says the Govt. of India’s Mandal Commission Report beautifully summing up the country’s fast deteriorating socio-economic situation. The report of the Backward Classes Commission, headed by B.P. Mandal, who died recently, was placed before Parliament on April 30, 1982 and after 16 months of delaying tactics by the govt. which had received the report on Dec. 31, 1980. The Janata Party Govt. appointed the Commission but there port was received by the Congress Govt. of Indira Gandhi who had given ample indication that the report would not be accepted. Mandal himself in a talk with us had predicted that his report would face the fate of the Kaka Kalekar Commission (1953) unless the OBCs were ready for a street battle. In this very column we had twice (DV Sept. 1981 and DV Dec. 16, 1981) expressed the same fear and we are proving right.
While the OBCs are sleeping, the upper castes and their press have been loudly.criticising there port. They don’t want to give up what they have. And to deny anyshare they have invented the “merit theory”. Those who have read Justice V.R. Krishna lyer’sparting judgment on reservations will get amplehint of the upper caste divide and rule game.We know that every govt. office and factory will turn into a battlefield if the govt. decides to implement the Mandal Report. Whether we like it or not, war is bound to come on the Mandal issue. The rulers can only delay the war but cannot avoid it. The Indian road to socialism will be bloodier than the Chinese Revolution. That doesn’t mean the Backward Class leaders should sit quiet. They should join hands with Dalits. Together with Muslims, they can shake the country. But we have every reason to doubt if the BC leaders will do this knowing their love for Hinduism. That is why we say the BCs will have to wade through rivers of blood before they get Mandal.
Not class but caste struggle will liberate Dalits, says D.David, Vellore, TN, quoting from Dr. Ambedkar and Lohia.
Crucifixion of a journalist: The Industrial Tribunal of Karnataka has held the dismissal of V.T. Rajshekar, as Deputy Chief Report of the Indian Express asin valid in a judgment delivered here on Jan. 25, 1982. He was dismissed on April 26, 1979 for writing articles in papers other than the Indian Express.
Christianity under attack in Hindu media: Over 50,000 Christians in Bombay on May ó took out a march to protest denial of entry of Christian Ministers into Arunachal Pradesh, govt. failure to protect Christian life and property in Kanyakumari etc.
Satya Saibaba blesses scientists: Sai Baba on May 14 spent 90 minutes with Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Bombay, meeting nuclear scientists who sought his blessings.
