Jalandhar, July 30

The Scheduled Castes and Backward Class Employees Federation, Punjab has demanded that the state government should withdraw its orders regarding abolition of the roaster system pertaining to reservation in promotions for Scheduled Caste and Backward Class employees. Mr Achar Singh Lapran, president of the federation, in a press note here today, alleged that the state government was pursuing anti-Dalit policies.

He said though the roaster system was being followed throughout the country by different state governments, Punjab had taken the "uncalled for" step by abolishing it. This was deplorable. He demanded that the state government should withdraw the notification, failing which the federation would launch a statewide agitation. The federation also demanded that the state government should implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission in toto.