UP's backward commission to take up fresh plea to include Kayasthas in OBC list

Lucknow: As the Parliament has passed the Constitution (One hundredth and twenty-seventh amendment) Bill 2021 to restore the power of State Governments to identify and specify Socially and Economically Backward Classes(SEBCs) on Wednesday, demands to include or exclude various communities in State OBC list gets momentum.

Quoting the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Backward Classes, an IANS report said that the Commission has got a fresh representation for replacing Muslim Kayasthas with Hindu Kayasthas in the state OBC list which was submitted on July 12.

The Kayastha community representation was earlier rejected as no one had further pursued the cause, says the report quoting sources.

The fresh representation has been made by BJP MLA from Bareilly, Arun Singh, a Kayastha, and the report says that the Commission has taken cognisance of the MLA's request, and added that his application would be taken up soon.

Various Kayastha organisations have been demanding adequate representation of people from their caste in ticket distribution, ministerial berths and even in party organisations.

Singh confirmed that he has sent a proposal to the Commission but refused to elaborate further. Muslim Kayasthas have been in the OBC list since 1955 who are at 77th position in the list of 79 castes with OBC status in Uttar Pradesh.

Muslim Kayasthas, is said to be those who were originally Hindu Kayasthas but got converted to Islam.According to the plea before th Commission, since their socio-economic condition is much better, they should be replaced by Hindu Kayasthas in the OBC category.

Commission Chairman Jaswant Singh Saini, said that the issue of the Kayastha community would be placed before the 28-member board, which would decide on the request.

After this, a survey of the community would be done, followed by a final hearing to entertain objections if any, he said. adding "after that the recommendation would be sent to the state government. A final decision would be taken by the government."

Meanwhile, several members of the Kayastha community have strongly objected to the move to include them in the OBC list.

Professor H.K. Srivastava, a retired academician said that the petition is downright demeaning for Kayasthas.

"Kayasthas are an educated community and economically stable. The move is politically motivated and we will strongly oppose it," Srivastava added.

Shrilal Verma, a cultural activist, also echoed similar sentiments when he said that Kayasthas were certainly not socially, economically or educationally backward and the petition had been filed with ulterior motive.

Sources suggest that Uttar Pradesh state government is planning to include 39 more caste in State's OBC list in which there are 79 castes at present.

Apart from Kayasthas, demands of many other castes including Mahapatras among the Brahmins,Bagwan, Goriya, Pawariya/Pamariya, Lavada, Rouhela and Muslim Bhant, is pending before the commission. According to a TOI report the commission would hold a final hearing on Mahapatras soon and send its recommendation to the state government.

The report also says that the issue related to Dhaankoot is pending owing to lack of information while the process to prepare a report on Unaayi Sahu caste is already on. The government, according to the report has alreadyrejected all other representation from castes like Bote, Hindu Bhant, Mahaur Vaishya, Umarbaniya, Khangaar, Agrahari Vaishya, Dosar Vaishya, Jayswar Rajput, Baranwal/Banwal vaishya, kamlapuri vaishya, Ode Kshatriya Rajput, Dohar, Ayodhyawaasi Vaishya and Kesharwaani Vaishya

As most of the parties are vying for the OBC votes in UP's upcoming Assembly Elections 2022, the move by State bakcward commission will ignite fresh demand to include many communities in the OBC category which could bring back the focus on these castes.