by Suresh Pd Nikhar
Gaya, Bihar: A key state executive meeting was convened by the Baranwal Seva Sadan Gaya Nagar Baranwal Seva Samiti on Wednesday, as part of preparations for the upcoming Maha Dharna demonstration on 20 October 2024, at Gardanibagh, Patna.
The meeting, held at Swarajpuri Road in Gaya, was chaired by Vicky Baranwal, General Secretary of the Samiti, and Rajkumar Prasad (Raju Baranwal), State President of the Baranwal Vaishya Mahasabha, Bihar.
The central issue discussed was the demand for the inclusion of the Baranwal community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list in both Bihar and at the national level. The community, which claims a population of over 12 lakh in Bihar, is seeking recognition and affirmative action through OBC status, which they believe has long been denied.
Raju Baranwal emphasized the need for unity within the Vaishya community, noting that while the Baranwal community is part of the larger Vaishya caste group, it has been divided into smaller sub-castes, weakening its collective strength. “Out of the 122 castes within the Vaishya community, Baranwal is only recognized under 21 sub-castes, amounting to a population of 30 lakh, which is a gross injustice,” Baranwal said.
He further criticized political parties for using the Baranwal community as a vote bank without addressing its core demands. “Every party seeks our votes, but our caste has yet to be granted OBC status, either in Bihar or at the national level,” he added.
Vicky Baranwal announced that he, along with thousands of Baranwal community members from Gaya, will participate in the Maha Dharna in Patna. He also praised Raju Baranwal’s efforts, noting his extensive travels across Bihar and Jharkhand to rally support for the cause.
The Baranwal community leaders also expressed concern over the government’s policy of granting OBC status to smaller castes with minimal populations, while neglecting larger communities like Baranwal. “This policy is detrimental to the future of our children,” Raju Baranwal argued.
The upcoming Maha Dharna in Patna is seen as a crucial moment to bring attention to the Baranwal community’s demands. The leaders expressed confidence that the demonstration would garner significant support and ultimately lead to the inclusion of the Baranwal caste in the OBC list.
Other prominent members of the Baranwal community, including Jitendra Kumar, Kanchan Kumar, Kundan Prakash, Subodh Kumar, Prem Prakash Pawan, Prashant Kumar, Mahendra Prasad, Rakesh Kumar, and Umashankar Prasad, were also present at the meeting.
The Baranwal leaders are optimistic that the success of the Maha Dharna will draw the attention of both the Bihar Government and the Central Government, ultimately securing OBC status for their community.
