Maya now wants reservation for Jats

UP chief minister and BSP supremo shot off yet another letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh demanding inclusion of Jats in central government's list of other backward classes (OBC). This is third letter to prime minister from Mayawati in last three days. While in the first letter she asked for constitutional amendment for Muslim quota in government jobs and educational institution, the second one was for giving reservation to poor upper castes. The Jats are already in the OBC list of UP.


In her letter, the UP chief minister has written that Jats mainly earn their livelihood from agriculture and related activities. However, she has stated, with time and increase of population, the per person land holding has dropped. As a result of which, Jats are now financially and educationally backward. ""The Jats in UP were included in OBC list in 2000. The Jats (leaving those living in Dhaulpur and Bharatpur districts) in Rajasthan were included in the Centre's OBC list in 1999. The financial and educational condition of Jats in UP is similar to their counterparts in Rajsthan. Hence, the Jats of UP should be included in the government of India's list of OBC so that they can get benefit of OBC quota in centre government jobs and educational institutions,"" she has written in the letter. She has also stated that she is of firm view that Jats need support to enable them join national mainstream.

On Saturday, Mayawati had written to prime minister for providing quota to Muslims by bringing them under the reservation policy. She had stated that her party will support the central government if quota for Muslims requires constitutional amendment. On Saturday, she wrote to Manmohan Singh for granting reservation to upper castes living under below poverty line.The three demands madee by Mayawati are being seen as her attempt to all castes and communities for gains in 2012 assembly elections.