General Category Joint Forum Holds Key Meeting in Mandi, Voices Opposition to Reservation Policies.
Shimla:
A significant meeting of the General Category Joint Forum was convened at the Suket Cinema premises in Mandi, bringing together senior office bearers and active members of various regional organizations representing the general category.
The meeting was presided over by District Mandi Convener Er. D.K. Chandel. Prominent attendees included State President Er. K.S. Jamwal and noted social worker Suresh Kaushal from the Joint Trade Mandal. Representatives from Rajput Sabha, Brahmin Sabha, Mahajan Sabha, Khatri Sabha, Ahluwalia Sabha, along with office bearers and members of the Joint Trade Mandal, participated actively in the discussions.
During the meeting, participants unanimously expressed gratitude to all general category organizations for successfully organizing a large and impactful rally in Sundernagar in March, demanding the rollback of what they termed as the “UGC black law.” The forum emphasized the need for continued unity among general category groups to safeguard their fundamental rights in the future.
A major point of discussion was the recent implementation of caste-based reservation in urban local bodies and panchayat institutions. Members strongly criticized the move, alleging it to be a “well-planned attempt to divide society.” The meeting resolved to oppose such policies firmly in the coming days.
Senior representatives urged the state executive to deliberate seriously on the issue in its future meeting and to formulate a robust strategy at the state level. Suggestions included registering protest through electoral means such as boycott, NOTA, or other democratic options in upcoming elections.
Addressing the gathering, State President Er. K.S. Jamwal alleged that both central and state governments were promoting caste-based divisions under the cover of reservation policies and the SC/ST Atrocities Act. He further claimed that the imposition of UGC-related provisions was contributing to caste-based discord even among students in educational institutions. He called upon members to actively participate in the ongoing state and national-level movement against these policies.
The meeting also announced the formation of the Sundernagar unit, appointing Harry Rajput, Duni Chand Sharma, Virender Gupta, and Rakesh Kaul as conveners. They were authorized to constitute the executive body at the earliest.
Several leaders addressed the gathering, including Ravindra Guleria, Hem Singh Thakur, Shiv Singh Sen, Er. Adalat Singh Thakur, Mahendra Pal Thakur, Om Prakash Jamwal, Narottam Shastri, Beni Chand Rana, Rajendra Sen, Rakesh Kaul, Duni Chand Sharma, Pravesh Sharma, Lalita Sharma, Krishna Murari, Mohan Lal Gupta, Virender Gupta, and Balchand Walia, along with their respective members.
