RAJBHAR GIVES UP MINISTRY

LUCKNOW: Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday said he would hand over charge of the backward class welfare department to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, claiming his recommendations on appointment of state backward castes panel members were ignored.

Rajbhar, also the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president, said he would continue to hold the ministry of empowerment of persons with disabilities.

The SBSP chief tweeted his resignation to Adityanath, expressing disappointment that people from backward classes were being ignored and discriminated against by his BJP government. The government refuted Rajbhar’s allegations. In an apparent bid to pacify Rajbhar, deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma held a meeting with him. But Rajbhar continued stand and said he would hold a meeting with his party leaders on February 24 to take a final decision.

“People of the backward classes are angry as the government has not given scholarships to the students of the community, over the lack of fee reimbursement and non-implementation of 27% reservation promised according to the recommendation of the social justice committee,” he said in a letter to Adityanath. “When a minister cannot have a say in the selection of a member and all the work is to be done by the CM, what is the point of the department being handled by me?”