The Punjab Pulse News Bureau
Shri SR Ladhar, President, SC Morcha, BJP, Punjab and retired IAS officer has categorically stated that SAD has withdrawn the candidature of Surjit Kaur for the Jalandhar West by-election because she does not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The party was trying to perpetrate a fraud and, when it came to light, it took a U-turn.
Ladhar clarified that there are 39 notified scheduled castes approved by the Government of India as passed by an act of Parliament. Among these, there is no caste notified as Sirkiband Rajpoot in Punjab by GOI, to which the SAD candidate, Surjit Kaur, belongs. Sirkiband, Mahatam and Rai Sikhs are synonymous castes in Abohar, Jalalabad and Fazilka area and few pockets along the Satlej river. The Rajpoots who claim to be Sirkibands have never undergone untouchability, the touchstone to be declared as SC category.
Shri Ladhar has alleged that Surjit Kaur, has procured a bogus SC certificate like many others in the state of Punjab. Elaborating on this, Ladhar said that before joining BJP he was running an NGO by the name PAGAAM. Through this NGO he got dismissed Sarpanch Sh Jaswant Singh of village Alampur in Patiala district who claimed to be Sirkiband Rajput. He also got dismissed a girl, Ravnit Kaur, from Guru Ram Dass Medical College doing MBBS since 2018 on fake SC certificate of Sirkiband Rajpoot. Her father and mother were both working in Nangal as general category employees and are still in service.
Shri Ladhar further alleged that there is a racket in Punjab of getting admissions and government jobs on bogus SC certificates. To check this, Ladhar stated that he has held a meeting with Social Welfare Minister, Punjab, and recommended amendment of the Welfare Act concerning reservations to SC people in a manner that ensures eradication of the issue of bogus SC certificates.
Shri SR Ladhar quoted the case of Mr. Manjit Singh Sekhon, a Jat caste person working as SDO in PWD department and Pushpinder Kaur a high caste who retired as lecturer. Both got jobs on bogus SC certificate. The father of famous Punjabi singer, Amrit Maan, a Jat Sikh by caste got job on a fake SC certificate retired and as School Principal. There are many more examples.
Shri SR Ladhar said that Punjab is on the fast track of becoming a failed state where the rule of law simply does not apply and jungle raj is the norm. There is no fear of the Government. If MLAs of high caste are elected on reserved seats, then what purpose do they serve for SC and ST asked Ladhar.
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