Tejashwi Questions NDA Leaders’ Stand on Dalit Reservation
PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday stepped up his attack on the BJP and RSS amid a growing disagreement between Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi over reservation policy.
Yadav invoked the Hindi saying “gud khaye, gulgule se parhez”, commonly used to describe an alleged double standard, while questioning the positions of the BJP and its allies on reservation.
The remarks came as the public disagreement between Paswan and Manjhi over reservation and the proposed sub-categorisation of quotas among Scheduled Caste communities intensified.
Tejashwi Alleges BJP-RSS Role in Quota Dispute
Yadav alleged that the differences between Paswan and Manjhi were taking place under the direction of the RSS, referring to its headquarters in Nagpur.
He also accused the BJP and RSS of being opposed to reservation and questioned why Paswan and Manjhi continue to remain part of the ruling alliance while taking positions on an issue that directly affects Dalit communities.
According to Yadav, both leaders have benefited from reservation and contest from reserved constituencies. He challenged them to resign from their ministerial positions and contest elections from general constituencies.
The allegations are part of a wider political confrontation over the future of reservation policy and how benefits should be distributed among different sections of Scheduled Castes.
Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi Clash Over Quotas
The dispute between Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi has intensified in recent days, with both Union ministers taking opposing positions on aspects of reservation.
Manjhi has backed the idea of sub-categorisation within Scheduled Caste reservations, arguing that the most disadvantaged communities should receive a greater share of the benefits.
Paswan, meanwhile, has opposed changes that he believes could divide Dalit communities. The disagreement has escalated to the point where the two leaders have demanded action against each other, including calls for resignation.
Reservation Debate Gains Political Momentum
Reservation has emerged as a major political issue, particularly in Bihar, where caste and social justice remain important themes in public and electoral debates.
The latest dispute has brought differences within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance into sharper focus. The disagreement also involves broader questions about whether existing reservation policies should be reviewed and whether benefits should be further divided among different social groups.
Tejashwi's latest comments seek to turn the dispute into a larger political challenge for the BJP and its allies, particularly on their stated positions regarding social justice and affirmative action.
The BJP and RSS have not been established as directing the dispute between Paswan and Manjhi; those claims were made by Yadav as part of his political criticism.
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