The Central government on Tuesday criticized the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath‘s move and ordered to stop issuing Scheduled Caste certificate to 17 OBC castes.
Speaking in the Upper House of the Parliament, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Rajya Thawar Chand Gehlot said, the Decision taken by Uttar Pradesh government is ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘not appropriate’.
Asking Uttar Pradesh Government to send a proposal, Gehlot said, ‘Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to give SC certificate Razto people from 17 OBC castes is inappropriate. Constitution holds the authority to move an SC, ST or OBC from a category to another. Still, if the UP government wants to do so, it must send a proposal, we will look into it.
However, Gehlot on Wednesday clarified that he had an objection. Speaking to ANI, Thawar Chand Gehlot said, ‘I had only put forward the rules & the set procedure, & said whatever I wanted to say in the House’.
TC Gehlot, leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha, on his statement in RS y'day on 'UP govt’s decision to give SC certificate to ppl from 17 OBC castes': It's not that I raised an objection. I had only put forward the rules & the set procedure, & said whatever I wanted to say in the House. pic.twitter.com/ovnfX2si9g
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019
However, this is not the first time that the Centre has raised objections over the move. Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav, the then CM, had in December 2016, had made attempts to add these 17 castes by issuing a notice to the Centre to do the needful. However, the then Union Minister Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot did not give its nod as the issue was challenged in the Allahabad High Court.
Last week, in a move to provide reservation to some backward castes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government had added 17 OBC castes in the list of Scheduled Castes. State Authorities have been directed to issue caste certificate to families belonging to these 17 castes.
The 17 Castes who have been added in Scheduled Caste Category include Nishad, Bind, Mallah, Kewat, Kashyap, Bhar, Dhivar, Batham, Fisherman, Prajapati, Rajbhar, Kahar, Pottar, Dhimar, Manjhi, Tuhaha and Gaur. Earlier, All these 17 Castes comes under Other Backward Caste (OBC) Category.
While this is not the first time that the efforts being made to include the above-mentioned castes into schedule caste category. Earlier, both the Samajwadi Party and BSP Governments made attempts to add these castes in schedule caste category.
Mulayam Singh Yadav the then Chief Minister of the state had in 2005 had issued a similar order, however, the Allahabad High Court opposed the move. Later, Akhilesh Yadav had made similar attempts in 2016 ahead of State Polls.
Similar attempts were made by BSP Supremo Mayawati. The then CM Mayawati had in 2007, had written a letter to the Centre proposing the inclusion of the castes into the SC category.
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