‘Upper castes should be given 15% reservation’
NEW DELHI: Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan is the senior-most Dalit face in the Narendra
Modi government. The veteran socialist from Bihar, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), spoke to over the protests against the government’s decision to bring in a bill restoring provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Corruption) Act that were seemingly watered down by the Supreme Court in March, reservations in promotion, and upper-caste reservation, among other issues. Excerpts from an interview:
Kumar Uttam
brought on day one. We, in a committee headed by home minister Rajnath Singh, decided to bring the ordinance immediately. But bureaucracy has its own speed. Whatever happens, happens for the good. Had there been no protests, the people would not have known what Modi has done. per-caste. Rahul Gandhi went to Mansarovar. Let him state if he is against or for this changed SC/ST act.this 25% (the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population), which was scattered and in a dilemma, has now consolidated behind Modi. the BJP. Do you think they will go to Lalu Prasad, who abuses them on a daily basis? Or will they go with Mayawati or Akhilesh Yadav? There is no protest. Whatever is there, it is temporary...i used to say that OBC reservation was a ‘double lock’ for Dalit reservation. I told Dalit leaders that if OBCS have got it, nobody can take away your quota. If they do not support the SC/ST act and promotion in reservation now, how will they (OBCS) ask for it tomorrow?