Increase quota for SC/ST communities: Jitan Ram Manjhi

PATNA: Former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday favoured the constitution of a national youth commission, but accused the NDA governments at the Centre and in state of only cheating the youths with false promises of jobs. He said the youths were swayed by such ‘jumlas’, but they are now highly frustrated.

Addressing the Hunkar Sammelan of the youth wing of the party here on Saturday, Manjhi said the youth could no longer be fooled and they would uproot the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre and Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar. Favouring 40% representation of youth in politics and other sectors, Manjhi said his party was doing everything possible to fulfil the aspirations of SC/ST and OBC/EBC communities.

“I’m not against the 10% reservation for upper caste poor because my party works for the poor sections of society from all communities,” Manjhi said, adding reservation for all categories be increased in proportion to their population. Manjhi added the report of the caste census should be made public.

He said, “SC/ST and OBC communities have been deprived of their rights as the central government is reluctant to their quota beyond 50%. The scheduled castes have only been given 15% reservation even though they contribute 30% of the total population. Similarly, OBCs have been given 27% reservation though they contribute 54% of the total population.”