BJP may face a big setback: The impact of the movement against sub-categorization of reservation was seen during Bharat Bandh

INDC Network: New Delhi: The Bharat Bandh called against sub-categorization in reservation for Scheduled Castes on Wednesday had a wide impact. This issue also united the uncle-nephew who had become staunch opponents of each other. In fact, Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras openly supported the Bharat Bandh, while BJP and JDU questioned its validity. During the Bharat Bandh, the reaction of the NDA constituents was different. The special thing is that Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) National President Chirag Paswan and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party President Pashupati Kumar Paras, who were playing opposing roles to each other, supported this bandh together. Chirag Paswan's statement in support of Bharat Bandh: Chirag Paswan wrote in his Instagram post, "I and my party Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) morally support the decision of Bharat Bandh in a peaceful manner in protest against the decision given by the Supreme Court on SC-ST reservation. It is our duty to become the voice of the rights of the exploited and deprived sections of the society. As long as I am there, no change in reservation is possible."

Pashupati Paras' support to Bharat Bandh: Rashtriya Lok Samta Party President Pashupati Kumar Paras also called the sub-classification in SC-ST reservation unfair. He said that it is not even in the Constitution. In such a situation, the Bharat Bandh organized by various organizations against the provisions given by the Supreme Court has become a democratic movement. He claimed that workers of RLSP's Jan Sangathan Dalit Sena also took to the streets in support of the bandh.

Samrat Choudhary's statement on the protest: Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself rejected the Supreme Court's opinion regarding the creamy layer and the cabinet approved it, then there is no justification for any kind of agitation on this issue. He said that the opposition, frustrated by the lack of an issue, created a ruckus in the name of agitation. This bandh did not get the support of the general public.

Shravan Kumar called the ruckus in the name of Bharat Bandh inappropriate: Senior JDU leader and Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar said that creating a ruckus in the name of Bharat Bandh can never be justified. He said that many democratic options are available to convey one's views to the government. Blocking rail and road routes is not a solution to any problem.

Political turmoil over the decision of reservation within reservation: After the Supreme Court's order, which allows creating quota within quota for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the political atmosphere has become heated. Dalit organisations as well as parties of the opposition alliance 'India Block' called for a Bharat Bandh on August 21 to protest against the decision. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, is also supporting the bandh. Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who calls himself Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hanuman, and his party are seen standing with the opposition on the issue of quota within quota.

Chirag had earlier supported BJP candidates in every seat even during the Bihar elections, when he fielded candidates against the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) despite being in the alliance. However, Chirag refrains from saying anything against the BJP or its leaders, even though his party has been informally expelled from the alliance due to Nitish Kumar's stubbornness. Then what is it now that Modi's Hanuman Chirag has been forced to take a different stand from the Centre?

Chirag Paswan and his party are taking a different stand from the Centre for the third time. Chirag had opposed the Supreme Court's decision on quota within quota in early August. Bihar's Hindustani Awam Morcha chief and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi welcomed the court's decision. Manjhi also belongs to the Musahar community, which comes under the Mahadalit category. Chirag had also opposed the UPSC's advertisement to fill 45 vacant posts of Joint Secretary, Secretary and Director level in the Central Government through lateral entry, for which the government had written a letter to the commission a day earlier to cancel it.

Now Chirag and his party are supporting the Bharat Bandh against quota within quota. Chirag Paswan said that the reason for reservation for SC-ST is not socio-economic backwardness. There is a bad practice like untouchability behind it. He says that as long as the practice of untouchability towards Scheduled Castes and Tribes remains in the society, provisions like sub-categories and creamy layer should not be made for SC-ST.

Why is Chirag taking a different stance from the Center? : It has not been even three months since the start of the third term of the Modi government and Chirag has taken a different stance from the Center for the third time. However, he is also adamant on his formula of targeting the BJP or Prime Minister Modi. Senior Bihar journalist Omprakash Ashk said that there are two reasons for this - social and political. Caste has been a big factor in Bihar politics and reservation is an emotional issue for Dalit castes. Due to the Dalit-Mahadalit classification, the vote bank of Chirag's party has been limited to the Paswan community. In such a situation, he fears that if he supports quota within quota, then these voters may also slip out of his hands. Chirag's party was the second largest constituent of the NDA before Nitish Kumar's party returned to the NDA. Nitish's political style and his increasing bargaining power are also a matter of concern for Chirag. After the Lok Sabha election results, Chirag is now trying to change his image of a yes-man of the BJP.

Supreme Court's decision on quota within quota: The Supreme Court in its decision on August 1 said that the state government can create sub-categories among the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The seven-judge bench had said in its decision that this will give more benefits of reservation to the basic and needy class. Quota within quota will be on a rational basis. The actions of the states will be subjected to judicial review. The Supreme Court also overturned the decision of the five-judge bench in the 2004 EV Chinnaiya case, which said that sub-categories cannot be created among SC / ST tribes.