Youth for Equality recent story

Saturday, May 20, 2006 : This is not just a protest against reservation. This is to ignite the young minds of the urban youth that you must care for the society, majority of whom are poor and underprivileged, otherwise politicians like Arjun Singh will exploit these weaker section with false promises. It is no hidden truth that the benefit of quotas in IIT, IIM and AIIMS will goto the rich OBCs in urban India while the really deserving backward people do not even have access to basic primary education. What we need is quality and compulsory primary education so that by the time the so-called backward class students come to the college entrance level, they are ready to compete with all. Dont limit the seats in higher education where competition is already cut-throat. Intake ratio in AIIMS is around 1000:1 and 100:1 in IIT/IIMs. So you must raise your voice against this retrograde and divisive policy being formulated by HRD Ministry.

Monday, May 22, 2006 : 2 members of the Sam Pitroda-led National Knowledge Commission have resigned over the ongoing controversy. Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andre Beteille have resigned on grounds that the government is not open to any discussion on reservations. It may be recalled that the National Knowledge Commission had earlier voted against the current Govt proposal of extending reservation to OBCs by 6-2. Also at that time Arjun Singh had come out in open with criticism of the Knowledge commission. Speaking out against the proposal for OBC quotas, Mehta, Member-Convenor of the Commission, said that quotas violate the cardinal principles of a knowledge-based society. He said the government's measures are not based on assessment of effectiveness, and the proposal is incompatible with the freedom and diversity of institutions. He added such a move would thoroughly politicise the education process, injecting an "insidious poison" that will harm the nation's long-term interest. The measures, he said, will not achieve social justice. Beteille too said in his resignation letter that the quota proposal is a cynical misrepresentation of the recent provisions of the Constitution. Pointing out that the caste quotas are not required by the Constitution, he said any such policy would be unwise.

Monday, May 29, 2006 : The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre questioning the basis on which a policy decision to implement 27 per cent reservation was taken. The bench has issued notices to the ministries concerned and have asked them to explain the modalities to be adopted for the implementation of the policy. The court granted eight-weeks time to the respondents to file their response to the PIL and also granted six-weeks further time to the petitioner to file his rejoinder. The court was hearing two petitions on the issue filed by Shiv Khera and another by advocate Ashok Kumar Thakur, who said the policy would divide the country on the basis of caste. The court also advised the striking students to call off the strike, now that the court is looking after the matter. On behalf of Youth for Equality, we would say, we have the highest regard for the Judiciary, and welcome this move by the SC. The fact that the SC has questioned the govt on this issue vindicates our stand. We hope that the Govt does something, which enables us to break our strike and return to work

Thursday, June 08, 2006 : Members of Youth for Equality, Pune, met with the President Mr Kalam on 8th June. The following points were brought to his notice as a memorandum-

1) 33 people consisting students and professionals were arrested in Pune on 28th of May during a rally against the proposed reservations and a case was filed in the local court. We kindly request you to look into the issue and do the needful so that case is rolled back. 2) There is a complete vertical split in the community of students due to government's decision to implement reservations which is very bad for the society. 3) We want a non political and neutral commission to review the proposed reservations. 4) Government should consider ways like improvements in the primary education facilities, scholarships for the uplifting the backward sectors of society. Reservations cannot be the solution. 5. We request the facility of registering our vote during elections from remote location through postal service or through internet. Considering all the aspects we kindly request you to take a well thought decision which will not divide the society and emotions of people. Gist of discussions with Hon. President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. 1st issue on the agenda, arrest of the 33 people. President has shown a concern on the behavior of administration. He himself noted down the following details of the incidence.
1) Date of the incidence.
2) No. of the people, section of the law. Their brief back ground IT professionals, Students, Doctors, etc.
Four to Five times he himself has given an assurance that he will personally look in to the matter. We briefed him regarding our concerns on current parameters for the reservation and made him aware of the situations in the Colleges, hostels etc. We have requested him for the Neutral & completely Non political commission formation to review the requirement of the reservation. Hon. President has taken note of this issue to review the outcome of 50 yrs. of reservation and discussed the issue of the increase in no. of seats, during the discussions our delegation has pointed out following. 1) There isn't sufficient infrastructure to handle current strength of students, if Govt. can not improve the infrastructure in 50 yrs. how its possible in 1 or 2 years.
2) Y4E, Pune has clearly indicated him that we are in favor of the Economic based reservations but not in the way it is being given.
3) We have indicated him that you can increase the no. of seat but you can't achieve the equality, an emotion of the people is a one which can't be fused so easily. After this kind of reservation there will be caste tag on everybody. In case of any queries regarding this event, contact in Pune: kaustubh.nimkar@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 27, 2006 : This article has been taken from Indian Express. For original go to
http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/6730.html For the benefit of readers it is being reproduced here. In all the debate over the Government's quota policy, little attention has been drawn to the corruption in the local collectorate which issues caste certificates.
The Sunday Express checked out Kanpur, Lucknow and Faizabad and obtained OBC certificates in the name of the high, the mighty—and the upper-caste. LUCKNOW, KANPUR, FAIZABAD, JUNE 17:HRD Minister Arjun Singh is a member of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

So are former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat and BJP president Rajnath Singh.
That's according to caste certificates, officially sealed and delivered to The Sunday Express for a "fee" ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 500. These certificates can now be used to get all benefits—from jobs to college admissions—available as per government policy. The ease with which these certificates can be obtained tells a larger story: of how the Government's reservation policy that looks at applicants purely through the caste prism can be subverted at any local collectorate. So as the Veerappa Moily panel works on how to upgrade seats and institutions to accommodate caste quotas, someone should be looking at reforms in the process itself by which individuals are categorized by caste. For, this isn't about one faceless babu of one mofussil office bending the rule once in a while—churning out these certificates is a huge racket in Uttar Pradesh, a state where caste is a key political category. The Sunday Express travelled across three districts, Lucknow, Kanpur and Faizabad and obtained OBC certificates in the names of well-known public figures: • Vajpayee was declared as an Ahir by the Faizabad collectorate, when he is a Brahmin. • BJP president Rajnath Singh, a Rajput, is, on paper in Faizabad, now a Kurmi. • Two OBC certificates, issued from two different places, declare Arjun Singh an Ahir in Faizabad and a Kahar in Kanpur. • Deepak Kumar, a Rajput, former District Magistrate and present Vice-Chairman of Kanpur Development Authority, is now a Kahar. • Prakash Karat's certificate issued by the Lucknow office makes him a Garadia. All these certificates can be obtained in a day and from one place but The Sunday Express team tested it for over a week obtaining one or two certificates on one day and tried the same the next day, and the next, to see how easy it is. From Lucknow itself, the newspaper obtained a pile of blank but stamped certificates of "caste," "domicile," "character," "birth," "motor vehicles registration" — you name it. On these blank forms, official signatures could be forged. But The Sunday Express got the certificates duly issued by a proper authority with serial numbers and actual signatures. Names of high-caste prominent people were deliberately used to explain how vulnerable the system is and how blindly the certificates are signed. Evidently, it didn't occur to anyone how an Atal Behari Vajpayee can be an OBC. Just contact the relevant tout, give them the name, the address, the caste and the cash. The certificates are home-delivered within three to five hours. No questions asked, no one cares to check documents, no interviews as per due process. Nothing. What should have been done • Fill out an application form, available for Rs 5 at Tehsil Office.
• Attach passport-size picture, copy of ration card and an affidavit on a Rs-10 stamp paper
• An income certificate if caste falls in "creamy layer" category
• Lekhpal physically verifies the address mentioned in the application form.
• Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Deputy Tehsildar interviews the candidate What was done
• Identify a tout, pay him average Rs 200-Rs 500
• No documentary evidence required
• No interviews, no physical checks

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 : 22nd August, 2006
New Delhi. YFE Delhi declared war on the government of India against its decision to approve the OBC quota bill on 21st august. A massive rally of about 1500 students was carried out at Jantar Mantar by students and doctors all over Delhi at 11 am today. We shouted slogans against the government and specially targeted sonia gandhi for failing to fulfill the wishes of her late husband who had vehemently spoken about the vices of the reservation policy in the parliament 15 years back. The students marched along Janpath towards the residence of Sonia Gandhi, but were stopped at the crossing by the police who were already waiting with barricades, watere cannons, lathis and tear gas shells. The police brutally assaulted the peaceful students by first firing water cannons and then bursting tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. the students bravely resisted them ,but then the police starting beating up few students with lathis... They also arrested 20 students and sent them to the lock up at connaught place police station. But the students did not budge, we kept protesting there and kept resisting the police brutality.......we even demanded that the arrested students should be immediately released. We also prepared a memorandum to present to mrs sonia gandhi personally...we were assured of the meeting earlier... but later after 1 hour of waiting, we were informed that madam was not available....it was absolute apathy on the part of her ....with no consideration of the feelings of its citizens and she is acting totally against the ideals and goals of her late husband. We had to request the police personnel present there and personally go to the police station to get our junior students and colleagues released. This incident today is a slap in the face of the government ....it does not even consider the advice of the Hon'ble Supreme Court which is still looking into the reservation issue in totality. we , the youth of India, have no faith in the government....we only are left with the option to come on the streets to ensure that India does not fall into the hands of these petty politicians who only are arrested in building their votebanks and securing their seat in the parliament and govt. This incident today should be an eye-opener for everybody all over India to rise above their petty squabbles and work towards'a progessive and equal India where everybody will be given equal opportunities in education or jobs. MERA BHARAT SAMAAN...

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 : The Supreme Court, today asked questions to the govt for which they had no answer.
The following were pointed out by the court:
1. Asked they for basis of 27% reservation
2. Creamy layer issue
3. In a historic statement, the court asked the report of the parliamentary standing committee to be presented before it.

Sunday, February 18, 2007 : Youth for Equality is thinking to contest upcoming MCD election. Talks are currently going on with different sections of YFE and final decision will be taken within a week. YFE had previously contested JNU students election and the response was overwhelming with YFE stood 2nd in 3 out of 4 seats and secured 3rd position for the remaining 1. YFE candidate had also contested the BMC election, where YFE candidate secured 4th position

Thursday, March 29, 2007 : Hunger Strikes.....blood soaken letters to PM.....demonstrations.....water canons......lathicharge.....at last some ray of hope!!! Supreme Court has put an stay on the OBC reservation in central instutions. SC has observered that the decision to implement OBC quota was taked without proper data being available. This is a new ray of hope for all of us as YFE along with many other groups have fought hard against this caste based politics. Going forward YFE is planning to ask SC to put stay on OBC reservations in state funded institutions also on these grounds ( since goverment did not have proper data available and last caste based census was done in 1931). We sincerely thank all our supporters, well wishers who have helped us all the way and would request them to keep supporting us so that we can have better "India", powerful "India". Please write us at yfepolitical@gmail.com for any suggesions,queries.

Friday, April 13, 2007 : In MCD Elections held in Delhi on 5th April, YFE Candidates: Dr Sanjay (from Kasturba Nagar) stood third with BJP, Congress at 1st, 2nd position respectively. Pradeep Jha (from GTB Nagar) stood third with BJP, Congress at 1st, 2nd position respectively. Dr. N. K. Joshi (from Ram Nagar) stood fourth. Though there was huge support for YFE in all the MCD wards, but unfortunately there was very less voting and most of the people were out on a election day that was followed by long weekend. Unless until people of india does not understand the power of thier vote, India cannot emerge as a great nation. We would like to request each and every individual of this country to use their democratic power of vote. That would really result in a better India....."Great India".

Sunday, April 15, 2007 : YOUTH FOR EQUALITY - Country First "Get Our Heroes Back"They Fought for India. Now India will fight for them. Did you know that there are still 54 Indian Soldiers incarcerated in Pakistan prisons post the Indo-Pak war of 1971. It is an irony that even after the comprehensive victory, India could not free its soldiers who were trapped by the enemy in the heat of war. These prisoners are no ordinary mortals. They fought for the honour and glory of the country and have to be treated as such. They do not deserve to remain in the dark and dingy cells of an enemy nation. They are our heroes. Their tale should have formed part of India's martial folklore and their names taken with respect and pride. Today they remain forgotten, mere names in the file lost in the labyrinth of the South Block. It is a collective failure of the entire nation. As a nation, we have displayed only callous indifference towards these soldiers who fought to preserve the country's freedom and integrity and, in the process, lost their own freedom. Pakistan Government has always denied presence of any Indian POWs in Pakistan, but there are facts which substantiate the claim of the relatives of the soldiers languishing in the Pakistan jails since 1971. We want that Government of India should make it a point to place the release of the Indian Soldiers high on the agenda of talks with President Musharraf. If pressed hard enough, Pakistan will have to accept India's request. What is required is a display of serious resolve by Indian negotiators. As a citizen of India it is our responsibility to impress upon the government to deal with this case very seriously. You and I are free today because somebody is guarding our frontiers. YFE Mumbai is organizing a play on this issue to create awareness so that we don't forget the real heroes. We all should try to do something to make an effort in a constructive direction. The play is scheduled on 29th April at Yashwant Natya Mandir in Dadar. The timing is 11:30 am. As a responsible citizen of India, please come forward and share the responsibility. YFE Mumbai Helpline : 9833158385 Dr Ravikant Singh : 9324334359 Rishabh Srivastava : 9892757958 E Mail: pows1971@gmail.com A Nation shows its character in the way it honours or dishonours its patriots.