As RJD plans protest demanding 65% quota for OBC, SC and ST, Bihar Minister Santosh Suman calls the move a 'drama'
Aug 31, 2024
Patna (Bihar) [India], August 31 : After RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav announced that his party will hold an agitation on September 1, demanding the inclusion of the findings of the caste survey under Schedule 9, Bihar Minister Santosh Suman dubbed the protest as 'drama' and said if Tejashwi loves Dalits so much, then why doesn't he bring any of them forward.
"All this is a drama. The central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the Dalits and backward classes. Tejaswi Yadav only does drama and if he loves Dalits so much then why doesn't he bring any Dalits forward? Whenever it comes to becoming something, only some people from the party are chosen," he asserted.
Tejashwi has said that he would join the protest scheduled on September 1 in Bihar.
He said, "We had mentioned this earlier too. Our Government had provided 65 per cent reservation for OBC, SC and ST, we had mentioned including it under Schedule 9. The matter is sub-judice. We knew that the BJP didn't want it. It wanted to end the reservation, so it didn't include it in Schedule 9. We had said that if they (the State Government) didn't present it well in Court, RJD would approach the Supreme Court and present its position. We are before the Court and RJD will present its part well. So, we have announced an agitation on 1st September overall in Bihar. I too will be a part of it."
Patna High Court in June set aside the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Act, 2023, and The Bihar (In admission in Educational Institutions) Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 as ultra vires and violative of the equality clauses under Articles 14, 15 and 16.
The Bihar legislature had in 2023 amended both Acts and increased the reservation from 50 per cent to 65 per cent in jobs and higher educational institutions.
Based on the findings of the caste survey, the state government increased the quota for SC to 20 per cent, Scheduled Tribes to two per cent, Extremely Backward Classes to 25 per cent, and Backward Class to 18 per cent.
