Dharamsot slams cabinet colleagues over quota in job promotion for Dalits

JALANDHAR : Cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot launched attack on his cabinet colleagues for allegedly scuttling implementation of 85th amendment to the Constitution for the benefit of the Dalit community in the state.

He was presiding over a statelevel function on occasion of Valmiki Jayanti.

Dharamsot asked the MP’s and MLA’s from the Schedule Caste to jointly flag the issue of 85th amendment, providing reservation in promotions to the officers/ officials of the community in government jobs, before the chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Dharamsot while addressing the function said that, a year ago, when the chief minister had come to Jalandhar on the same occasion, he had raised the issue before the CM, who had later announced regarding its implementation.

“In the cabinet meeting, Chaudhary saab (referring to Jalandhar MP, Santokh Singh Chaudhary) you know what happens ? When the 85th amendment was brought in the cabinet meeting by chief minister and chief secretary, I cannot even express what happened there (in meeting),” he said .

Without naming his cabinet colleagues, the minister for social justice, empowerment and minorities said that some forces in the cabinet is only bothered about the community during polls.

“However, the issues of the Dalits take a back seat in the meeting. They are not bothered about the community,” he said.

He said the decision regarding 85th amendment to the Constitution was passed by Vidhan Sabha and Punjab governor, only implementation is required.

“Local leaders too should take up the issue with the chief minister for its early implementation,” said Dharamsot.

Lok Sabha MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh also slammed the Modi government for its anti-Dalit stance charging that the Union government was discontinuing all welfare schemes started by the Congress government.