'Mazhbi' Sikhs demand reservations

[Inqlabi]

Chandigarh February 12: Taking a clue from Gujjars who disrupted rail traffic in Rajasthan for getting their ‘right’ of reservation, activists belonging to ‘Valmiki Mazhbi Sikh Reservation Bachao Morcha’, today disrupted rail traffic at Moga in Punjab to press upon their demand for reservation within reservation.

This has forced the railway authorities to cancel thirty three trains while routes of 8 long distance trains have been diverted.

Rail traffic has been disrupted by morcha activists at at Moga on Ludhiana-Ferozepur Railway route and Chhina on the Amritsar-Pathankot rail route.

The protesters have squatted on the railway lines at and declared that the jam would continue for indefinite period and they will not clear the track until their demands are met.

Valmikis and Mazhbi Sikhs, who have been demanding a fixed 12.5% reservation quota for them out of 25% reserved for all the SCs, today struck the rail traffic at Ludhiana-Ferozepur Railway route in Punjab.

This demand of Valmikis and Mazhbi Sikhs has been constantly opposed by ‘The Chamar Mahasabha’ which says that the 25% reservation for SCs can’t be further bifurcated. Paramjit Singh Kainth, the president of the Sabha, recently met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, to apprise the PM about the logic of the Chamar Mahasabha on the issue of reservation within reservation.

Organisations for and against the 12.5% fixed reservation for Valmikis and Mazhbi Sikhs have been building pressure on the State Government and the issue was discussed with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, by both the parties. The issue is being fought legally also and at present is pending with Supreme Court of India.