NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of working to end reservations, pointing to the junior judiciary appointments where no tribal candidate was selected.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Chairman of the party’s ST Department, Dr Vikrant Bhuria, said that in the recently declared civil judge exam results, not a single ST candidate was selected although 121 posts were reserved for them. He added that only one SC candidate found a place in the final list. He said this reflected a deliberate effort by the state government to weaken reservation benefits for marginalised groups. He demanded a high-level investigation and a re-conduct of the exam.
Dr Bhuria also raised concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. He said the process harms tribal communities the most and increases the risk of disenfranchisement. Many tribal families migrate for work during this period, leaving homes empty. Those who remain are often elderly and unable to provide required documents. He warned that this situation increases the possibility of tribal names being removed from the rolls. He called for a migrant policy to protect tribal voters.
He further alleged that the state government was clearing thousands of trees in the Singrauli forests to support coal mining by the Adani group. He said the area had been turned into a heavily policed zone to suppress tribal protests. According to him, those resisting the operation were being issued notices, expelled from the district or jailed. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the issue.
By Abdul Bari Masoud
