Govt denying OBCs chance to join IAS, IPS: RJD and SP

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP), the two major forces of dalit empowerment, on Monday accused the government of denying OBC candidates, appearing for All-India Services Examinations, a chance to get into IAS and IPS in the name of creamy layer formula, a charge the Centre rejected.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sab-ha, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav of RJD and Dharme-ndra Yadav of SP claimed that the government was using the creamy layer formula as a tool to “strangle” OBC candidates by denying them entry into top services the IAS and IPS.

The government, however, claimed that the members of the two parties were trying to “portray a wrong picture”.

Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar said the government is “ready” for any change in the formula. “The rule on creamy layer is in place since the UPA rule in 2004. You are painting a wrong picture...We are just following the same rule,” he said, adding that the BJP and the NDA government are committed towards reservation for OBCs.

Home minister Rajnath Singh clarified that information is sought from OBC candidates about creamy layer to avoid court cases by other candidates. “Their interests are not harmed. It is sought to avoid litigation,” he said.

Mr Singh assured that he was ready to get the issue examined, even though there was no confusion.

Hukum Deo Narain Yadav of the BJP said the Natio-nal Commission for Backw-ards should be granted constitutional status to give it more teeth in tackling cases of violation of OBC rights.