M A I N   N E W S

HP minister quits on issue of job quota
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 17
The resignation of Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister, from the Dhumal ministry has once again brought alive the issue of reservation in government jobs in the state, adding to the woes of the ruling BJP.

The Mandal issue had caused an unprecedented turmoil in the state a decade ago, leading to a prolonged violent agitation. Kangra district from where Mr Vidya Sagar hails, was one of the worst hit as anti-Mandal and pro-mandal protesters took to the streets. The Supreme Court intervention came in the nick of time to save the situation in which political parties were unable to take a clear-cut stand.

Nevertheless, the polarisation caused by the stir did make an impact on the electoral fortunes of the BJP, which was in power at that time. The other Backward Classes, which traditionally supported the BJP, favoured the Congress overwhelmingly and scripted disaster for the party in the 1993 Assembly poll. The Congress, which came to power subsequently, set up the Backward Classes Commission and it made reservation for Other Backward Classes in jobs on its recommendations from time to time. Initially a 10 per cent quota was provided which was increased to 15 and finally to 18 per cent.

The Other Backward Classes have a significant presence in Kangra, Una and parts of Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi and Sirmaur districts. In fact, the OBCs could tilt the electoral scales in about two dozen Assembly constituencies, more than one-third of the total seats. As such, no party can afford to ignore them.

Mr Vidya Sagar’s resignation at the fag end of the term of the government was to reassure himself of the support of backward classes. It is a ploy for survival in the highly competitive electoral politics where retaining one’s seat was not any easy proposition. His action has, however, caused much embarrassment to the Dhumal government, which only recently included Jats, Sainis and Chuharas in the state list of Other Backward Classes to broaden its support base.

His long list of grievances, particularly the allegation of the neglect of the Kangra constituency in the matter of development, show the Dhumal government in poor light. The BJP has been claiming that the state had achieved unprecedented development over the past five years. The allegations of “neglect”, that too by a minister, will make its claim untenable.

Further, the resignation will put pressure on other ministers and party legislators to follow suit. It remains to be seen what course of action Mr Ramesh Dhwala, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, and Mrs Sarveen Chaudhary, Parliamentary Secretary, both of whom hail from backward classes, will follow. Mr Vidya Sagar has also been opposed to formation of new districts by truncating Kangra district. He had also opposed the proposed reduction of Assembly seats from 16 to 15 in the district. Even after having publicly raised all these issues to embarrass Mr P.K. Dhumal, he has been maintaining that issue could be settled amicably if the Chief Minister concedes his demands.