Protest against Not Implementing Mandal Report
V. Anaimuthu, Trichy, TN, writes:
The Periyar Equal Rights Movement at its meeting in Madras on Nov. 7 has decided to observe Jan 26, (R. Day) 1981 as “Condemnation Day” for the dishonour done to the Constitution by the govt by not implementing the Mandal Commission report on the backward classes which had recommended job reservation to the OBCs. We request the SC/STs, OBCs, minorities and all other people of India interested in social change to hoist black-flag before their houses and to wear black badges on that day.
I was on an intensive tour of Bihar and Chandigarh. I received a letter from the Home Ministry dated Oct. 28 that the Mandal Commission report would be placed on the table of Parliament (The Govt. has since pleaded its inability to do so when MPs demanded that in the current session of Parliament). Unfortunately, our OBC leaders are doing nothing with regard to the Mandal Commission report. In the name of the backward classes, they tried to get berth in the Cabinet. The Kerala Backward Classes Federation is fully satisfied with what they are having. There is practically no backward class movement in AP or Karnataka. In TN, the ADMK & DMK leaders are busy wooing the ruling party. No doubt the DK is doing a lot to rouse the OBCs but it ends up with a mere attack on Brahmins and at the most the ADMK, but not the Govt. of India or the Brahminism which is ruling us. We do not agree with the Dalit Voice in advocating conversion of SCs. However, I agree that the support of the Muslims and Christians should be secured for our struggle. There is no such way of life as Buddhism in India as conceived by the Buddha. The only alternative that we have before us is to unite the BCs (including Muslims & Christians) & SCs which is feasible and possible. The atrocities of BCs on SCs all over India should be condemned by all of us. I have much hope in your writings. Kindly ponder over all these points. In my opinion, Periyarites, Ambedkarites and Lohiaites are the right type of people to undertake the job of consolidation of BCs, SCs and minorities. As on 1-1-1979 out of about 3546 I.A.S. officers in India, 2,000 posts are held by Brahmins and other upper castes. Though the SC/STs have been allotted due share in this cadre, the backward classes have not still obtained their due share since there is no separate reservation for them. Till today there is no reservation for the BCs in States like Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam and Rajasthan in State-level spheres. In India the BCs constitute 52% and the SCs and STs form 23% of the population.
