Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Sat Sharma CA, in a meeting with a delegation of prominent members of the OBC community, assured that the party stands with the OBC community and is committed to their socio-economic upliftment.
Sat Sharma CA, made this assurance to the delegation after going through a memorandum submitted to him by OBC Morcha President Braham Jyot Satti, which drew attention to a major disparity affecting four OBC communities, i.e Kumhar, Teli, Barber, and Dhobi, who, despite being recognized as OBCs, receive OBC benefits only in rural areas but are deprived of the same in urban regions. The delegation emphasized that this differentiation is unjust and has caused social and economic disadvantages to these communities residing in towns and cities.
In the memorandum, the OBC leaders demanded that these four subcastes be granted equal OBC status and benefits in urban areas as well, including the issuance of OBC certificates to ensure uniform access to government schemes, reservations, and welfare programmes.
Sat Sharma CA appreciated the concerns raised and assured them that he would personally take up the matter with higher authorities. He assured the delegation that the genuine demands of the OBC communities will be addressed and resolved soon, as the BJP remains committed to the welfare and upliftment of every section of society, especially the marginalized.
Sat Sharma further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has always stood for social justice and equality, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several landmark initiatives have been undertaken to empower OBCs across the nation. He said that it is the responsibility of the party to ensure that no community faces discrimination based on geographical or administrative divisions, and all eligible citizens must get their due benefits irrespective of where they live.
He also mentioned that the party leadership is in constant touch with government authorities to identify and remove such inconsistencies in the implementation of welfare schemes.
Sat Sharma assured the delegation that necessary representations will be forwarded to the concerned departments and ministries so that the issue of OBC benefits in urban areas is resolved at the earliest. He expressed confidence that a favourable decision will soon bring relief to the affected communities.
Expressing gratitude, Braham Jyot Satti said that the OBC Morcha is continuously working to highlight the issues of backward communities and ensure justice for all deserving castes. He thanked Sat Sharma for giving a patient hearing to the delegation and for his firm assurance to raise the matter with the government. Satti added that such proactive engagement from party leadership strengthens the confidence of the OBC community and motivates them to continue contributing to the party’s mission of inclusive development.
Prominent BJP leaders including State General Secretary Baldev Billawaria, Spokesperson Balbir Ram Rattan, and District President Rajesh Gupta were present in the meeting.
A number of senior OBC leaders also participated and expressed gratitude to the party leadership for their positive response.
