Chandigarh, Dec 12–Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the State Government was committed to protect the interests of the members belonging to Backward Classes and the interest of Backward Classes-A would also be fully advocated in the Supreme Court of India.
This was stated by the Chief Minister while addressing a huge State level Backward Classes rally organised at Hisar today.
The turnout in the rally was beyond expectations of the organisers of the rally as the huge ground was fully packed.
Referring to the decision of Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding reservation of Backward Classes-A in government jobs, he said that the state government was committed to protect their interests. He said that he being himself the son of a farmer like them, he was well aware of the problems being faced by the different sections of the society including Backward Classes. All-out efforts would be made by the state government to sort out every problem and difficulties being faced by the people belonging to Backward Classes.
Huge turnout in the rally had created a history in Hisar today. The 67 Biradaris of Backward Classes-A had exhibited their unity by offering one garland to him, which was the basic spirit of the rally, the Chief Minister added.
Mr Hooda said that some people were upset to see the sea of humanity in the rally of Backward Classes. The state government had taken a number of steps to redress the problems of the people of Backward Classes. “Haryana Mitti Kala Board” had been constituted to promote the traditional art of hand-crafted earthenware, pottery and artifacts in the State.
On a demand raised by certain leaders regarding not to address Backward Classes as backward, the Chief Minister said that he did not agree with them, as merely deleting word ‘backward’ would not serve the purpose. The people of this segment of the society would be benefitted in the real sense only when they are granted equal rights and equal status in the society. The great leaders like Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Dr Rajendra Prasad had made a provision of equality for the weaker and poor sections of the society in the Constitution and the provision was pursued by the Congress party under the leadership of Mrs Indira Gandhi and Mr Rajiv Gandhi and now under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Encouraged by the huge crowd in the rally, Mr Hooda pointed out that his government has taken two important decisions to benefit the future generation. In this age of globalisation, only those countries who are ahead in education would march on the path of development and prosperity. The state government had initiated scholarships ranging from Rs 75 to Rs 400 per month for the students from Class I and Haryana was the first state not only in the country, but probably in the world to have made such provisions. Residential plots measuring 100 square yards were being given by the state government to the members belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes-A and those living below the poverty lines.
He said that Congress and the Backward Classes were compliment to each other. Congress party took care of the interest of all the sections of the society. Whenever the people of Backward Classes annoyed with the Congress party due to some reasons, the party had to lose power and whenever Congress remained out of power, the weaker sections of the society were exploited. The Congress party is the only political party in the country which is poor-friendly. The present state government had implemented a number of schemes for the welfare of weaker sections, which have brought out sea change in their living standard. Many more new schemes for the welfare of weaker sections would be implemented in future as well, he added.
Mr Phool Chand Mullana, President, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) said that the Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda was doing well to every section of the society by pursuing the policies of the Congress party and the huge turnout in the rally had proved the fact that Mr Hooda alone was their true well wisher. The opposition had no issue today. The Congress was the party of 36 Biradaris. Mr Hooda had already proved it by getting him (Mr Mullana) elected as President of HPCC, nominated Dr Ram Parkash as the Member of Rajya Sabha and getting Mr Ram Niwas Ghorela elected as Member of Vidhan Sabha.
Dr Ram Parkash, Member Parliament, presided over the rally. He congratulated Mr Ram Niwas Ghorela for organising a successful rally. He said, “He was not with the Congress party or the Chief Minister, because of some vested interest. He is supporting the Congress party and the Chief Minster only because Congress and Mr Hooda understand the difficulties of the poor people.”
The stage was conducted in the rally by Prof. Virender Singh, Political Advisor to Chief Minister. Mr Kuldeep Sharma, Working President of HPCC, former Minister Prof. Parmanand, former MP Mr Jai Parkash, Kailasho Saini, MLAs Prof. Sampat Singh, Mr Venod Bhyana, Mr Naresh Selwal, Mrs Savitri Jindal and former MLA Prof. Chhatar Pal also addressed the rally.