JD(U) national council reiterates demand for caste-based census

THE COUNCIL ALSO BACKED THE NEED FOR POPULATION CONTROL, SAYING IT COULD BEST BE ACHIEVED BY EDUCATING GIRLS

PATNA: The national council meeting of the Janata Dal-united or JD(U) on Sunday reiterated its demand for the caste-based census and endorsed all the decisions taken at the party’s national executive meeting held in New Delhi on July 31.

While talking to media persons, JD (U) general secretary KC Tyagi said that Munger MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh was now formally coronated as the national president of the party. The council also passed a resolution that the party chief would head the party’s parliamentary board in keeping with the party’s Constitution.

“It has also been decided that the party would contest assembly election in Uttar Prasesh and Manipur. The party would like honourable seat-sharing in UP and other states. In 2017, the party did not contest despite demand and that affected our expansion. The council also reiterated its demand for caste census, for which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had led an all-party delegation to the PM earlier this month,” he added, emphasising that JD(U) had remained the most reliable partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The council also passed a resolution demanding by that the Rohini Commission recommendations be made public. In 2017, the Centre had set up Justice Rohini Commission, which favoured sub-categorisation of reservation for other backward castes (OBCS) in the government sector by splitting 27% quota into different categories of OBC for equitable distribution of benefits among different sub-castes. After several extensions, it could submit its report, dividing 2633 OBC sub-castes in the central list into four sub-categories with 2 %, 6 %, 9 % and 10% quota to add up to 27%. However, it’s report has not yet come out.

The council, while favouring the need for population control, reiterated CM’S stand that the objective of it could be best achieved by creating awareness and boosting education among girls. “Merely making a law will not serve the purpose. It requires overall approach as it requires change in mindset, which can come only through education and empowerment,” he added.

The council discussed a range of issues, including organisational strengthening, upcoming election in Uttar Pradesh and other states and party’s expansion plans in its quest for national status.