In an attempt to woo the Jat community in Uttar Pradesh, Congress has advocated their inclusion as Other Backward Castes (OBC) in the Central list.
The Jats have already been included in the state list of UP as OBC but in the Central list, the community has not been included for getting the benefits of reservation.
If the community gets a place in the Central list as OBC, they will be eligible for reservation in Central services and Central educational institutions.
On the issue, AICC general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh said, "Congress' viewpoint is that Jats should be included in the Central list of OBCs and get reservation in Central government jobs and educational institutions."
He said that since the provision of creamy layer already exists, only the poor and weaker sections of the community would get the benefits of this facility.
A delegation of Congress leaders from Uttar Pradesh led by Singh also met Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik over the issue.
Congress is clear on the issue that the community, which is OBC in the state list of UP, should also be included in the Central list, Singh said.
There is a provision for the National Commission for Backward Classes to carry out surveys of socio-economic conditions of various castes and make recommendations to the government for their inclusion in the Central list of OBCs.
Singh said the Central government should accept if any recommendation has been made or it can take this step on its own.
This view of the Congress comes ahead of "Mission 2012" of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi which envisages victory in the 2012 Assembly elections in the largest state of the country.
Congress has already shown a remarkable performance in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 21 seats in the state. The tally went up to 22 when its candidate Raj Babbar defeated SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Dimple in the Lok Sabha by-polls there recently.
The consolidation of Jat votes in its favour will further put the party on a stronger foot. PTI
