Nitish Kumar defends reservation for SC, ST

PATNA: Defending reservation for the members of SC and ST, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday asked as to how people who have been left on the sidelines, would come in the mainstream of the society if they were not provided quota in government jobs.

Addressing a division-level ‘Dalit-Mahadalit sammelan’ at Munger, CM said those persons who make statements against the provisions of reservation wanted to create an atmosphere of confusion and social collision in the society. The Sammelan was organised by ruling JD(U).

“I want to make it very clear here that no one has taken birth on this earth to end the existing provision of reservation for the SC and ST in the country. Nobody has the power to do away with the quota system. People like us are ready to make all sacrifices for this cause,” Nitish said amidst applause from the audience.

Nitish, who is also the JD(U) national president, said his government introduced reservation for SCs, ST and backward classes in Panchayati Raj institutions in 2006 and reserved 50% of the seat for women belonging to all sections of the society.

Referring to the state government’s recent achievement of providing electricity connection to all households across the state, CM said earlier when there was acute shortage of power supply in rural areas, parents in villages used to discourage their children from going out the home during night hours by saying that there are ghosts lurking in the dark.

“Now, when all the households in all the villages across the state have been provided electricity supply, children cannot be scared with the fear of ghosts. With the completion of ‘Har Ghar Bijli Yojana’, the ghosts from all villages have been made to flee,” CM said and added, “Now, ghosts from entire Bihar have been made to flee.”

Prominent other JD(U) leaders who addressed the Sammelan were ministers Maheshwar Hajari, Shailesh Kumar, Ramesh Rishidesh, former education minister and MLC Ashok Choudhary, former minister and MLA Shyam Rajak, MLAs Ratnesh Sada and Ravi Jyoti.