NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary Forum of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe M.P.s, which has firmed up its activities, has decided to press for the inclusion of the reservation policy in the Ninth schedule so that it cannot be challenged in court.

Addressing a Press conference here August6, Ram Vilas Paswan, a convenor of the Forum said it was decided at its general body meeting recently that its members, irrespective of their political affiliations, would also highlight the problem of increasing atrocities on Dalits during the discussion on the SC/ST Commission slated for August 17 in the Lok Sabha, Among the other issues to be raised by the SC/ST M.P.s include a demand for bringing in a legislation on reservation as to statutory and provide for punishment for those who do not implement this policy. A plea for extending reservations to the private sector and the Rajya Sabha and legislative councils will also be made during the forthcoming discussion, he added.

In addition, Paswan said the Forum also passed three resolutions. They have demanded that the Center file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Judgement of the Allahabad High Court which has ruled against reservations for SC/STs in educational and scientific institutions.

The Forum has also asked for stern action against the distinct judge of Mehsana in Gujarat, who has been advocating un touch ability. In addition, they have drawn the government’s attention to the functioning of the National Finance Corporation for SC/STs, especially its managing director, and have demanded that an enquiry be constituted against him,

Paswan said the Forum had also set up a parliamentary wing, with Yogendra Makwana as its head, to prepare papers on issues concerning scheduled castes and tribes so that these can then be effectively highlighted in the Parliament.

The Forum has also set up a 31member executive with Arvind Netam (Congress) as the chairman and Buta Singh and Chandra shekharan (Congress), Kalka Dass (BJP) and Paswan (Janata Dal) as its convenors, In addition, six general secretaries have also been appointed. They are H.Hanumantappa and Mukul Wasnik (Congress), Dr.Asim Bala (CPM), Bal Jogi (TDP), Shibu Soren (JMM) and A.C.Das.

Paswan, who is also the vice president of the Janata Dal, announced that the Dal, along with volunteers of the Dalit Sena and the Dalit Action Committee, will court arrest at the Boat Club, on the anniversary of the announcement of the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations. The demonstrators, he said, will demand the immediate implementation of the report and highlight the Congress party’s dilly-dallying tactics on the issue of reservations for backward classes.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992