Union ministers Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi clash over SC/ST reservations, demand each other's resignations
Jitan Ram Manjhi has backed the line, framing it as social justice and citing SC's 2024 judgment permitting sub-classifications based on empirical data.
Union ministers Chirag Paswan from the LJP(RV) and Jitan Ram Manjhi from the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) have engaged in a public disagreement over the review of scheduled caste (SC) reservation quotas. Paswan, the chief of the LJP(RV), has called for the resignations of Manjhi and his son, Bihar Minister Santosh Kumar Suman, for suggesting the reconsideration of SC reservation.
The dispute has come to the forefront due to the demand for reviewing the SC/ST quotas and introducing sub-categorisation based on empirical data, a proposal backed by Manjhi and Suman. Paswan maintains that reservations are a constitutional right, not charity, and that they aim to address historical untouchability and social discrimination.
This issue is reminiscent of Paswan's father, Ram Vilas Paswan, who had previously opposed the introduction of a separate "Mahadalit" category. Manjhi maintains that the proposal targets the most vulnerable among Dalits and seeks to provide them with targeted welfare.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
