Guj Assembly: Cong stages walkout after state govt refuses to give definitive reply on OBC panel report

The Opposition Congress on Friday staged a walkout in the Gujarat Assembly after the BJP-led state government refused to give a definitive assurance about releasing the report of a commission formed last year to inquire into the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies to decide on reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

At least 15 out of 17 MLAs of the Congress, led by senior legislators Arjun Modhwadia and Amit Chavda, walked out of the House after state Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Bhanuben Babariya said the report will be released ''soon'', as the commission's tenure had ended on March 12.

During a discussion on budgetary demands for the social justice and empowerment department, Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani, BJP's Alpesh Thakor and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Umesh Makwana demanded that the commission's report be made public.

The BJP government had formed the commission in July last year to collect and analyse data about the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies, an exercise necessary for fixing the OBC quota in the panchayat polls.

As directed by the apex court, seats to be reserved for OBC candidates in each local body will be decided as per the recommendations of the commission following a detailed study.

The commission, formed as per the directives of the Supreme Court, was headed by retired Gujarat High Court Judge K S Jhaveri.

''The Jhaveri Commission’s report is ready. Elections to several district, taluka and village panchayats were kept in abeyance because this exercise was pending. I urge the government to make the report public so that the elections can take place,'' Thakor said in his address.

Thakor along with Makwana demanded a separate department to cater to the needs of the OBC community.

Taking part in the discussion, Congress MLA Amit Chavda said the issue affects all the OBCs in the state, who account for 52 per cent of the population.

''Though the tenure of the Jhaveri Commission ended on March 12, it was neither given an extension, nor was the report made public. Even the BJP MLA raised the same issue. We want the minister to give a clear answer as to when the report will be released,'' Chavda said.

The legislator also sought a significant increase in the budget allocated to eight different boards and commissions meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward castes.

''While these castes form 82 per cent of the population, the state government provides only Rs 166 crore to eight different boards and commissions meant for the welfare of these castes every year. This allocation must be significantly increased if the government is serious about the welfare of the backward castes,'' Chavda said.

When Babariya did not give any definitive reply about making the report public, Congress MLAs staged a walkout as a mark of protest.