UPA plans OBC status for Jats

With an eye on elections, the UPA government is considering granting backward status to Jats to help them get reservation in central jobs.

The Union Cabinet is likely to take a call on the issue shortly, sources said.

A Group of Ministers set up to deal with the issue has already made its recommendations to the Union Cabinet.

"The GoM has left the decision of granting backward status to Jats on the wisdom of the Cabinet. It has not taken a decision," a senior government functionary said.

After the recent Muzaffarnagar riots, there has been a feeling in the Congress that Jats are tilting towards the BJP.

Even Union minister and RLD chief Ajit Singh is learnt to be in favour of weaning away Jats - his core votebank - from the BJP.

At present, Jats are designated as OBCs in some states like Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. They get the benefit of reservation in jobs in these states. They have been demanding for many decades that this facility be extended to central government jobs.

The community members had even carried out blockade of highways and railway tracks in the recent past to press for their demand.

But the GoM set up in August had a tricky job at hand as the National Commission for Backward Classes had in 2011 rejected a demand to grant OBC status to Jats at the central level.

If they are granted backward status, they would share job reservation from within the 27 per cent granted to other backward classes.