Union minister and LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan on Saturday demanded resignations of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son, Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman, for advocating a review of scheduled caste (SC) reservation.
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Paswan underscored simmering differences within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the issue into an open confrontation. Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) has backed sub-classification within the existing SC and ST quotas. Earlier reporting noted: Manjhi’s son and Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman argued that the system needs to be reviewed so that reservation benefits reach the most vulnerable communities.
“If the father-son duo wanted such changes, they should first quit their ministerial posts—one at the Centre and one in the state—and then raise the matter in Parliament,” he said. Paswan’s stance is in line with that of his late father Ram Vilas Paswan, who had fiercely opposed a separate “Mahadalit” category introduced in the state more than a decade ago by the then chief minister Nitish Kumar. When Manjhi’s attention was drawn to Paswan’s latest retort, he said, “It is not us, but Chirag Paswan who should resign as he is unable to understand the point Santosh and I have been making in the broader interests of Dalits. “It is a fact that among the Dalits, there are castes which are relatively more vulnerable and these deserve targeted welfare which can happen after introducing a sub-category…” the Gaya MP said. We are talking about making reservation more just, effective and ensuring that it actually reaches those who are deprived,” Suman said.
Earlier reporting noted: “We are not talking about ending reservation. Earlier reporting noted: The confrontation escalated on Saturday after Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has consistently opposed sub-quotas within SC reservation, said Manjhi should resign if he supports the introduction of a creamy layer.
