Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has called for the inclusion of Delhi’s Jat community in the Centre’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) list, citing the ongoing disparity in benefits between Jat students from Delhi and those from other states like Rajasthan. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Kejriwal accused the Central government of misleading the Jat community over the years, particularly after promises made in 2015 and 2019 regarding their inclusion in the OBC list.
Kejriwal highlighted the issue of Jat students from Rajasthan benefiting from reservations at Delhi University (DU) while Delhi’s own Jat students remain excluded due to their absence from the Central OBC list. He argued that thousands of Jat children from Delhi are unable to gain admission to DU because they do not qualify for reservations that their counterparts from other states do.
While Delhi recognizes Jats as part of the OBC category within the state, Kejriwal emphasized that the central government has yet to extend the same benefits, creating a sense of “betrayal” among the community. He urged the Centre to include Delhi’s Jat community in the OBC list to ensure they have access to opportunities in both jobs and educational institutions under the central government.
Further backing his demand, Kejriwal noted that agencies like the MCD, DDA, and PWD operate heavily within Delhi, and inclusion in the OBC list would significantly benefit the Jat community in securing these government jobs.
In response, BJP leader Kailash Gahlot criticized Kejriwal, questioning his sudden concern for the Jat community, given his lack of action in the past decade. He insinuated that Kejriwal’s demand was politically motivated, as the Delhi Assembly elections, set for February 5, are fast approaching, with results to be declared on February 8.
The ongoing political debate underscores the heightened importance of the Jat community in the upcoming elections and the larger conversation surrounding OBC reservations in India.
