Was given cabinet berth despite belonging to one of the lowest castes: Jitan Ram Manjhi
Aug 19, 2024
Patna (Bihar) [India], August 19 : Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday said that despite belonging to one of the lowest castes in Bihar, he has been given a place in the cabinet and everyone is respected in the BJP-led NDA government.
Addressing reporters on the issue of reservation, Manjhi said, "I belong to the lowest caste in Bihar and was given a place in the cabinet. This shows that respect is given to the Scheduled Castes and to everyone. And as far as taking away reservations is concerned, where is it being said? Everywhere reservations are being talked about. If there is a talk of touching reservations then I am in the cabinet, Nitish Kumar is in the cabinet. We can talk to them in the cabinet also."
Earlier on August 14, targeting the Centre over the reservation, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday that if the BJP is in favour of the SC/ST reservation, then they should bring an ordinance against the Supreme Court's order on the creamy layer regarding the reservation.
Tejashwi also mentioned that the BJP means "Badka Jhootha Party".
"What is the BJP doing? It is scrapping the 65 per cent reservation and 10 per cent EWS. We demanded that it be placed in Schedule 9 but BJP props up its people in court to scrap it. So, we are part of it in the Supreme Court as well. We will fight it out in court as well as on the streets. BJP means 'Badka Jhootha Party'. Except for lying, spreading confusion, and spreading hatred, it has no other work," he said."
Recently, a court order has come on the creamy layer; we are saying that the BJP should bring an ordinance. If they are in favour of SC/ST reservation, then why is there talk of a creamy layer? Reservations were given by Ambedkar Sahib after seeing the discrimination that people faced. Those who are backward should come into the mainstream. BJP is anti-Dalit and anti-reservation," Tejashwi added.
Notably, the Supreme Court's earlier ruled that states have the power to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) and said that the authority concerned, while deciding if the class is adequately represented, must calculate adequacy based on effective and not quantitative representation.
The Supreme Court ruled by a majority judgement of 6:1 that sub-classification within the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) reservation is permissible.
