ITANAGAR, Feb 15 - The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), led by its president and former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, today staged a �peaceful protest dharna� at the IG Park Tennis Court here �to protest against the BJP�s unconstitutional stand and attacking provision of reservations for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and other communities�.
After the dharna, the State Congress party submitted a memorandum to the President of India, through the office of the Governor, demanding suitable action to enact a law protecting job security and reservation for the underprivileged, SCs, STs, OBCs and Dalits.
In their speeches at the protest venue, Tuki, senior leader and former minister James Lowangcha Wanglat and others flayed the ruling BJP�s reported move to remove the provisions of reservations for underprivileged communities while citing the contention by the BJP Government in Uttarakhand that �there is no fundamental right to claim reservation in appointments or promotions to public posts� and �there is no constitutional duty on the part of the State Government to provide reservations�.
�This is a complete betrayal of the trust and faith reposed in the Constitution and the Governments � both Central and State � by the citizens of this country and especially those who belong to the SC, ST and OBC communities,� the Congress leaders said.
�This is not the first time that such a dilution has been attempted by the BJP in Government. Since they came to power at the Centre, there has been an abolition of the SC/ST Sub-Plan. There was also an attempt to dilute the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 which the BJP Government was compelled to remedy (by way of amendment recently) following nationwide protests,� they stated.
