Meeting of OBC Leaders Held at Hiranagar, District Kathua to Mobilize Support for Caste Census and Educational Upliftment under Article
Jammu may 15, A significant meeting of OBC leaders was held at Hiranagar in District Kathua under the leadership of Head Master (Retd.) Sh. Raj Kumar Sabharwal. The event was organized with the aim of strengthening grassroots connections, particularly panchayat-wise and village-wise, to mobilize people around the crucial issues of caste census and educational upliftment through Article 15(5) of the Indian Constitution.
Prominent leaders present in the meeting included Sh. Madan Lal Chalotra, Chairman of the OBC Department, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Sh. Darshan Mehra, General Secretary of the OBC Department JKPCC, as well as other senior leaders and workers including Subash Chander, Jouginder Kumar, Romesh Chander, Prem Kumar Verma, and others. The meeting was a show of unity and resolve by the OBC leadership to carry forward the message of justice, equity, and constitutional rights.
The central focus of the meeting was to lay out a clear and effective strategy to connect with people from every panchayat and village in the region. The leaders unanimously emphasized the demand for a caste-based census as an essential step toward equitable representation and resource allocation. They strongly echoed the national voice raised by Shri Rahul Gandhi — the ‘Jannayak’ of today’s India — who has consistently advocated for social justice and equal opportunity for all marginalized communities.
The leaders also stressed the implementation of Article 15(5) of the Constitution, which empowers the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, particularly in educational institutions. This Article, upheld by the Supreme Court, serves as a constitutional tool to strengthen the education system for OBCs and ensure that no student is left behind due to structural disadvantages. The participants resolved to build awareness about this provision among the masses, particularly the youth, to ensure they can access their rights.
Sh. Raj Kumar Sabharwal extended his wholehearted support to the cause and pledged to work actively at the grassroots level to ensure every OBC household is informed and empowered. He highlighted the role of education in social transformation and committed to being a bridge between community aspirations and policy implementation.
Sh. Madan Lal Chalotra reaffirmed full support from the Jammu and Kashmir Congress Party and pledged that the OBC Department will leave no stone unturned to make this campaign a mass movement. He said, “Our struggle is for recognition, representation, and dignity. We will take this message to the last corner of J&K.”
Sh. Darshan Mehra shared a detailed action plan to reach every individual in the region through panchayat-wise meetings, educational seminars, and grassroots mobilization efforts. He emphasized that the movement is not merely political but a fight for constitutional justice and the future of coming generations.
The meeting concluded with a collective pledge to strengthen the voice of OBCs in Jammu and Kashmir and to carry forward the vision of Rahul Gandhi with full determination and unity.
