Bhopal, July 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tension flared in the state capital on Monday as OBC Mahasabha activists clashed with police while demanding the implementation of 27 per cent reservation and the immediate release of 13 per cent withheld posts.
Police deployed water cannons to disperse the protesters who attempted to march towards the Legislative Assembly. Several activists were arrested at Roshanpura Square.
The demonstrators, who had arrived from various districts across Madhya Pradesh, gathered at Roshanpura before proceeding towards the Assembly. When they refused to halt despite police warnings, authorities resorted to extensive use of water cannons.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar and Congress leader Sachin Yadav reached the spot and extended support to the agitators. Singhar sharply criticised the government’s “dual mentality” on the reservation issue.
The protest stems from a prolonged recruitment deadlock linked to the hike in Other Backwards Classes (OBC) reservation from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. The matter is currently sub judice.
Pending a final court verdict, the state government adopted the “87:13 formula”, under which appointments were made to 87 per cent of the posts, while approximately 11,000 posts (13 per cent, related to the enhanced OBC quota) were kept on hold. Thousands of selected candidates have been waiting for years to receive their appointment letters.
The eventual court decision is expected to have far-reaching implications not only for these candidates but also for the state’s overall recruitment and reservation policy.
Dharmendra Singh Kushwaha, a member of the OBC Mahasabha’s national core committee, said backward classes have been struggling for their rights for a long time. He alleged that reservation-related matters have been pending since 2019, severely affecting the future of lakhs of OBC youths.
The OBC Mahasabha has accused the government of failing to fulfil its promises regarding reservation implementation. The activists demanded immediate action to release the withheld posts and clear the backlog so that deserving candidates can secure employment.
The incident occurred on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, adding to the charged political atmosphere in the state capital. Police maintained heavy security around the Assembly complex to prevent any further escalation.
The protest once again highlights the long-pending demand for full implementation of enhanced OBC reservation in government jobs in Madhya Pradesh.
Source: IANS
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