Modi-Shah betraying Delhi's Jats by keeping them out of Centre’s OBC list: Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah of “betraying” the Jat community in Delhi by not including it in the Centre’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. The Jat community holds significant influence in Delhi, making up an estimated 8-10 per cent of the electorate.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Delhi assembly elections in early February, Kejriwal stated that he had written to PM Modi requesting the inclusion of Delhi’s Jat community in the Central OBC list. "In Delhi, there is an OBC list that includes the Jat community. However, the community is not part of the Central government’s OBC list. As a result, when Delhi students apply for admission to Central universities like Delhi University (DU), they do not receive reservations under the OBC category," he explained.

The former Delhi chief minister accused the Centre of “misleading” the Jats for the past decade and failing to honour its promises. "In 2015, the BJP invited Jat leaders to the prime minister's residence and assured them that Delhi’s Jat community would be included in the Central OBC list. Union home minister Amit Shah made the same promise in 2019. However, no action has been taken to fulfil these promises," PTI quoted Kejriwal as saying.

Kejriwal questioned why Jat students from Rajasthan benefit from reservations at DU, while Jat students from Delhi are denied the same opportunity. "Thousands of Jat children in Delhi cannot secure admission to DU because they are not included in the Central OBC list," he added.

He further pointed out that the Jat community in Rajasthan is included in the Centre’s OBC list, allowing them to receive reservations in Delhi colleges and during Delhi Police recruitments. However, Jat students from Delhi are denied these benefits for admissions and jobs.

Attacking the BJP-led Centre, Kejriwal stated that a grave injustice was being done to the “brothers and sisters” of the Jat community in Delhi. “PM Modi met Jat leaders three times at his residence over the past 10 years. Amit Shah also met them, but they have failed to deliver on their promises. They only remember the Jat community during elections; after that, they forget about them,” he said.

Kejriwal also alleged that although Delhi’s Jats are recognised under the OBC category at the state level, the Central government has refused to extend the benefits to them.

He mentioned that there are five other communities included in Delhi's OBC list but not in the Centre’s: Rawat, Roniyar, Raitanwar, Charan, and Ode. These communities are deprived of reservation benefits in both Delhi and Central universities, as well as jobs.

“There are seven Central universities in Delhi, and DU has numerous colleges. Additionally, there are government sectors like Delhi Police, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and several hospitals where people from these communities do not benefit from reservations. I urge the prime minister and home minister to honour the promises they made to these communities,” Kejriwal said.

“I assure you that I, Kejriwal, will fight for my Jat sisters and brothers and ensure they are added to the Centre’s list. I will do whatever it takes, and go to any lengths, to secure your rights,” he added.