Delhi’s former Chief Minister and AAP convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, has reiterated his demand for the inclusion of Delhi’s Jat community in the Centre’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. Speaking at a press conference after meeting a delegation of Jat leaders, Kejriwal highlighted the disparity between Delhi’s Jats and their counterparts from Rajasthan, who already enjoy OBC benefits at the central level. He accused the BJP-led government of breaking its decade-long promise to grant this reservation, leaving the community frustrated. Kejriwal also emphasized that the AAP fully supports the “justified demand” of the Jat community.
The BJP responded strongly to Kejriwal’s statements, calling them an “election gimmick.” BJP leaders, including MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat and NDMC vice-chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal, criticized the AAP for failing to address this issue during its tenure. They claimed that the AAP government never raised the matter on significant platforms and accused Kejriwal of using the reservation issue as a political tactic to regain lost ground ahead of elections. Chahal further alleged that Kejriwal’s leadership was partly responsible for the delay in securing central OBC reservations for Delhi’s Jat community.
Amid the escalating political exchanges, Kejriwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding action on this issue. Meanwhile, the Jat leaders who met him expressed their discontent with both the BJP and AAP, accusing them of neglect and broken promises. As the debate intensifies, the demand for central OBC status for Delhi’s Jats remains a critical issue that could influence the political dynamics in the upcoming elections.
