Staff Reporter/New Delhi

Claiming that reservation in services is not the solution to the problems being faced by dalits even 50 years after India gained independence, Uttar Pradesh Governor Suraj Bhan has said that land reforms is the need of the hour.

"The majority of the dalit populace is illiterate, so reservation in services is not going to help them. They are poor and rely on agriculture for survival," the UP Governor said and called on all the intellectuals in the country to come forward and fight for the cause of the backward classes.

Mr Suraj Bhan was speaking at a one-day seminar which was held in North Campus of Delhi University. The seminar was organised by the Dr Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research (ACBR). Others who participated in the seminar included Union Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, former Union Minister Buta Singh, the Governors of Haryana and Mizoram, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ch Prem Singh and National SC/ST Commission Chairman Dilip Singh Bhuria.

Prof A R Kidwai, Chairman of the governing body of ACBR delivered the welcome address.

Mr S P Gautam, general secretary of the BJP in his lecture urged the people of the backward communities to unite and fight for their uplift and development. Mr Bhuria also shared his views and called on the people of these communities to unite.

Mr Ram Vilas Paswan who came to grace the occasion only after lunch spoke highly of equality of sexes which is practised in India and cited the example of the US where no woman has occupied the office of the President till date. He also pointed out that the only social discrimination in India is in the context of castes. He announced that the backward communities are not demanding any special position but only equality. He urged the people to rise above party lines, above castes and live as one big family.