The Brahmins On Warpath

Jammu: The 1,000 delegates who participated in the two-day All-India Brahman Pratinidhi Conference, which concluded here on Nov. 27, adopted a resolution asking the Centre to bring to book those manufacturers who had adulterated vanaspati with beef tallow. The two-day conference, which was presided over by Swami Niranjanand of Kenkhal Ashram of Hardiwar called upon the people not to use places of worship for political purposes or for anti- social, elements as was happening in Punjab today. The conference urged the Tamil Nadu and Kerala Govts to take measures to ensure equal treatment to all communities in respect of admissions and recruitment and expressed *concern over the anti-Brahman policy of non-Brahmans in the two States. The resolution also gave an assurance to Brahmans of TN and Kerala of the support of the entire Brahman community in the country in their struggle for achievement of their due share in all spheres of the States’ activities. Non-Brahmans of IN and Kerala, were asked to rise above caste considerations in the larger interests of national unity. Another resolution felt grave harm had been done to national unity by the Central and State Govts. policies of reservations based on caste and community in respect of admissions to professional institutions and recruitment in Govt. services. The conference recommended that reservation in respect of admission to professional institutions and recruitment to Govt. services all over the country should be based only on economic back-wardness and that too for a specified period after which only merit should from the criterion. The conference felt that Sanskrit should occupy a place of respect and it should be made an elective subject for middle and high classes in all the States. (Statesman, Nov. 28)