Bihar: Reservation debate create differences within NDA
Patna, Aug 29 (IANS) Differences within the NDA over Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe reservation came into sharp focus in Bihar on Saturday, with Union Minister Chirag Paswan strongly opposing former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son, state minister Santosh Suman, on their demand for changes to the system.
Chirag objected to calls for introducing a “creamy layer” provision in SC/ST reservations, insisting that those advocating such a move should first resign from their positions. He stressed that the reservation policy was not based on economic status but was designed to address centuries of social discrimination, exclusion and untouchability.
He maintained that any proposal to alter the framework was highly sensitive and should be debated in Parliament rather than reduced to political rhetoric.
Manjhi and Santosh Suman have been pressing for sub‑categorisation and a “quota within a quota” in SC/ST reservations, arguing that benefits have not reached all communities equally. Santosh Suman said their demand was not aimed at ending reservations but at ensuring deprived groups received their share.
Chirag countered that viewing reservation through the lens of economic status could dilute its original purpose. He called for a broader constitutional and parliamentary debate before any changes were made.
Turning his criticism towards the Congress, Chirag questioned the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and his party’s responsibility, given its long tenure in power, arguing that if social discrimination persisted, Congress must also answer for it.
The disagreement is significant for Bihar’s Dalit politics, as Chirag and the Manjhi‑Suman camp both seek to position themselves as champions of marginalised communities but differ sharply on the future of the reservation system.
The developments have raised questions about whether the NDA’s constituent parties can arrive at a common position on the sensitive issue or whether differences will deepen in Bihar politics.
–IANS
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