10 %t reservation for Punjabi community in Haryana

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, FEB 12

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that he has performed his duty by giving to the Punjabi community, the benefit of 10 per cent separate reservation meant for economically weaker sections of the general category.

          Mr. Hooda was addressing the well attended felicitation function of Punjabi Mahasabha, Haryana at his residence here  as the leaders of Punjabi community from all over the state called on him to thank him for giving 10 per cent reservation to the Punjabis.

          Speaking in chaste Punjabi, the Chief Minster  greeted them saying “Ji Aye Nu” ( you are welcome) and said that Punjabis had contributed a lot in freedom struggle of the country and they  had come empty-handed during partition in 1947. 

He said that the issue of reservation was a significant step in the direction of giving social justice to economically backward people including the Punjabis. While terming himself as a Punjabi, he said that when he was born, his village was located in erstwhile Punjab. “Socially, I am son of a farmer and belong to Jat community, but my political caste is Congress and political religion is patriotism. I have only performed my duty by giving reservation”, he added.

          Mr. Hooda said that there were economically backward people in every community and they should be given reservation. He said that some communities were left out of the reservation in backward classes. On their request, the Government formed Haryana Backward Classes Commission and it   recommended to include certain categories which were left out of the  backward classes. He said that the cabinet jointly decided to give reservation to those categories that were not getting benefit of reservation. Also, it approved 10 per cent reservation to economically backward of general category including the Punjabis.

          He said that his government has given due respect to the Punjabis in the state. The government is setting up a Medical College at Karnal named after Astronaut Kalpana Chawla. The government had also granted second language status to Punjabi which is long standing demand in the state. Punjabi leader Mr. B.B. Batra has been appointed as first Chairman of Haryana Public Service Commission. He said that Mr. Shadi Lal Batra was sent to Rajya Sabha and present Chairman of Haryana Staff Selection Commission also belonged to the Punjabi community.

          Speaking on this occasion, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Vinod Bhayana described the Chief Minister as messiah of people belonging to every section of the society. The thinking of Mr. Hooda clearly indicated that he is the only Chief Minister who is well wisher of all including Punjabis. He said that Punjabis have contributed a lot in development and growth of the nation before and after independence. He reminded that there was a Chief Minister who even used to say that he also came from Pakistan but did not take a single step for ther welfare of the Punjabis. He said that Chief Minister Mr. Hooda had always given due respect to Punjabi community.

          MLA Mr. B.B. Batra also thanked the Chief Minister for providing 10 per cent reservation to the people belonging to economically backward classes including the Punjabis. He said that history has witnessed that Punjabi people had significantly contributed to the freedom struggle of the country.

          MLA Mrs. Sumita Singh said that Chief Minister has always taken keen interest in the welfare of people of all sections of the society. He has given honour to the community by setting up a medical college at Karnal named after famous Astronaut Kalpana Chawla. Apart from this, Mr. Hooda has made available land for Punjabi dharamshala in Sector-9, Karnal and  had given grant of Rs.61 lakh for its construction, she added.

          President Punjabi Mahasabha Haryana Mr. Ashok Mehta and Press Secretary Mrs. Parvesh Handa also spoke on this occasion.

          Those present on this occasion included Political Advisor to Chief Minister Prof. Virender Singh, Special Secretary (Political and Media) Mr. Randhir Singh, President Panchkula Municipal Council Mr. Ravinder Rawal, former President Mrs. Manveer Kaur Gill, former Media Coordinator Mr. Dalip Chawla Bitu, District Punjabi Mahasabha President, Ambala Dr. Naveen Gulati, Mr. Subhash Bhatla, Mr. Sunil Sahni, Mr. Vishal Bhatia, Mr. Ramesh Batra, Mr. Arun Juneja, Mr. Vijay Mehta, Mr. Bhupinder, Mr. R.R. Suri, Mr. R.B. Madan, Mr. Rakesh Nagpal, Mr. Mohinder Narnag and other officer bearers of Punjabi Mahasabha Haryana.