‘Default template of BJP’: Congress, RJD on reservation debate between Jitan Ram Majhi, Chirag Paswan

New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ongoing war of words between Union Ministers Jitan Ram Majhi and Chirag Paswan over the SC/ST ‘quota within quota’ row, calling it the BJP’s “drama” and “default template”.

Earlier in the day, Majhi accused Paswan of indulging in “unconstitutional work” after the latter 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.

The LJP-Ram Vilas chief had stressed that the reservation policy was not based on economic status but was designed to address centuries of social discrimination, exclusion and untouchability.

Speaking to reporters, Bihar’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said: “The BJP is doing all this drama from behind. They are testing people’s mood, putting pebbles in the water and seeing what happens.”

Referring to Majhi and Paswan, he said: “These people are merely characters. They only want posts. They are greedy for positions, chairs, bungalows and security, but have left society behind.”

According to RJD MP Manoj Jha, both the Union Ministers are doing “injustice” to the core issue of reservation, as both of them are “not willing to look at such concerns from a wider spectrum”.

“This facade is a default template of the BJP,” he told IANS.

For Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, Union Ministers making allegations against each other “goes against the Constitution”.

“Perhaps they do not realise that the principle of collective responsibility applies to the Council of Ministers. Whatever a minister says remains the government’s position until it is contradicted,” he told IANS.

“Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi not listening to his Ministers fighting among themselves and giving statements against each other?… When a government starts spilling over, the smaller parties are the first ones to leave.”

Adding to the criticism, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said: “Jitan Ram Manjhi has gone so far in appeasing the Bharatiya Janata Party that he no longer cares about the country, the Constitution, backward classes, or Dalits.”

“Jitan Ram Manjhi should be removed with immediate effect if he does not care about Dalits, the Constitution, or reservation. As for Chirag Paswan, if he stands with Dalits and the Constitution, then he should leave the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Otherwise, it will be considered that he is merely putting on a show,” he remarked while talking to IANS.

Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson Dr Guru Prakash Paswan maintained that the government has a clear stand regarding the reservation issue.

“Reservation will exist till discrimination exists in society, and our government has strengthened this system. Whatever one says on this can be their personal opinion, but for social justice, the BJP is committed to fulfilling the vows of B.R. Ambedkar,” he told IANS.

–IANS

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