The Crossbill News Desk
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday (August 25) voiced his support for a caste census just days after opposing the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government's move on lateral entry, India Today reported.
Despite being an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)- led government at the Centre, the LJP leader's stance on the caste census highlights a shift in his political positions.
When asked about his position on the caste census during a press conference, Paswan stated, "My party (the LJP) has consistently maintained its support for the caste census," reported India Today.
Paswan further emphasized that there are several reasons why the Central government should conduct the caste census.
"The reason for this is that several times, both the state and the central government draft many schemes keeping the beneficiaries' caste in mind. Those schemes are prepared with the thought of connecting people from the Backwards class with the mainstream," the Minister of Food Processing Industries said.
"In such a situation, the government should have information about the population of that caste so that it can figure out the proper allocation of the amount," he said.
Earlier this week, Chirag Paswan had also criticized the concept of lateral entry appointments in government jobs. He described the lateral entry into the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as “completely wrong.”
Earlier on Sunday, Paswan was re-elected as the national president of the LJP for a five-year term. The decision was made unanimously during the party’s national executive meeting held in Ranchi.
At the meeting, Paswan stated that his party is prepared to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand to bolster its support base in the tribal-majority state. Incidentally, another National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), has expressed its intention to contest 11 seats in Jharkhand as part of the alliance.
Despite being an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)- led government at the Centre, the LJP leader's stance on the caste census highlights a shift in his political positions.
When asked about his position on the caste census during a press conference, Paswan stated, "My party (the LJP) has consistently maintained its support for the caste census," reported India Today.
Paswan further emphasized that there are several reasons why the Central government should conduct the caste census.
"The reason for this is that several times, both the state and the central government draft many schemes keeping the beneficiaries' caste in mind. Those schemes are prepared with the thought of connecting people from the Backwards class with the mainstream," the Minister of Food Processing Industries said.
"In such a situation, the government should have information about the population of that caste so that it can figure out the proper allocation of the amount," he said.
Earlier this week, Chirag Paswan had also criticized the concept of lateral entry appointments in government jobs. He described the lateral entry into the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as “completely wrong.”
Earlier on Sunday, Paswan was re-elected as the national president of the LJP for a five-year term. The decision was made unanimously during the party’s national executive meeting held in Ranchi.
At the meeting, Paswan stated that his party is prepared to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand to bolster its support base in the tribal-majority state. Incidentally, another National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), has expressed its intention to contest 11 seats in Jharkhand as part of the alliance.
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