BHOPAL: Taking a lesson from Bihar assembly and Jhabua by-poll debacles, BJP has decided to extend full support to reservations by extending it to other recruitments in Madhya Pradesh, if chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s announcement is any indication. Chouhan on Sunday declared reservation to SCs and STs will also be given in ad hoc recruitments. Congress termed this announcement as a bait aimed to lure tribals.

“There were misconceptions floated by opposition parties that BJP is against reservation which are absolutely baseless. We are not against reservation of backward class but, from now on we will extend it in ad hoc recruitments too’’, said Shivraj Singh while addressing a gathering of SCs and STs union in Gwalior.

Beginning with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comment on reservation to BJP’s repeated clarifications on the issue, it was observed party needs to convince backward class about it’s stand. Chouhan also believed party’s debacle in tribal belt of Jhabua during parliamentary by-poll was caused by Congress raking up reservation issue. “Reservation will never be abolished in the state,” Chouhan reiterated at the meeting, adding, backlog vacancies of SCs-STS will also be filled within time-limit.

As an add-on, BJP government ensured government servants of reserved classes will be promoted by holding departmental promotion committees, while reviews will be undertaken by the chief secretary. It was stated rules for promotion on seniority basis will be implemented strictly and chief secretary would undertake review every six months. The government has also given special attention to SC and ST employees in field postings.

Congress, has reiterated that BJP has always been against reservation. Congress state president Arun Yadav said, “BJP tried to woo backward classes and considered them only as a vote bank. This is again a step to lure the SCs and STs after BJP started losing elections. Congress will always be with the deprieved class, fighting for their rights’’, Yadav told TOI.

Shivraj Singh during his public meetings has also raised issue of free education, facilities and scholarships to reserved class. Now he has assured to extend benefits of higher education abroad to the students of reserved classes too.

