AAP Intensifies Outreach to Jats

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday reiterated its demand for the inclusion of Jats from Delhi in the Centre's list of other backwards classes (OBCs) so that they too can benefit from central government reservations in jobs and education.

- Alok KN Mishra

NEW DELHI:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, criticised the AAP's stand, accusing party convener Arvind Kejriwal of "provoking" the Capital's Jat community over reservations.

The development came as both parties, with an eye on the Delhi polls, attempt to woo electors from the community, which has 700,000 and can play a crucial role in certain seats such as Mundka, Najafgarh, Nangloi Jat, Matiala, Bijwasan, Mehrauli, Bawana, Narela.

The Capital's Jats are considered OBCs under the Delhi list of other backward classes, and enjoy the benefits of reservations in all Delhi government institutions. However, the community does not feature on the Central OBC list, which means that they are not eligible for reservation in central government institutions such as Delhi University.

To be sure, the Congress-led UPA government had included Jats in the Central OBC list before the 2014 general elections, but the Supreme Court in 2015 cancelled the decision and questioned why the government ignored the findings of a panel, advising against quota for the community.

On Monday, Kejriwal met a delegation of Delhi Jat leaders at his residence, after the AAP convener on January 9 wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking that the community be added to the Central OBC list.