The Supreme Court has allowed the classification of Scheduled Castes ie Dalits based on the level of backwardness. He has said that state governments will be able to decide which caste and category belong to Dalits on the basis of backwardness. If this happens, the benefits of reservation will reach the Dalit community and more and more people, apart from a few families, will be able to climb the reservation ladder and improve their lot. But who is the real life changer here? The so-called Dalit-friendly parties are now reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict out of concern for their own vote banks.
Chirag will not accept population and income basis.
Although the BJP and the Congress have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, their allies have given a different opinion. Our companion newspaper The Economic Times (ET) has quoted sources as saying that the Supreme Court’s order will harm the interests of the dominant Dalit castes. Union Minister Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has opposed the decision to sub-categorize Dalits. He has said that he will file a review petition in the Supreme Court.
Chirag says population and income have never been the basis of reservation for Scheduled Castes. According to the Socio-Economic Survey, Chirag’s own caste Paswans constitute 5.31 percent of the population in Bihar, the largest ethnic group after the Yadavs. Similarly Chamar is the third largest caste group with 5.25% of the population. In other states Chamars are known as Jatav.
Mahadalit politics since 2008 in Bihar
In 2008, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar separated a section of Mahadalit castes into Dalits. It accommodated the small population of Dalit castes, hence Paswan was not accommodated. Nitish implemented special schemes for the development of Mahadalts. Nitish’s party Janata Dal United (JDU) has said that the decision given by the Supreme Court today has been implemented in Bihar in 2008.
Why Jitan Ram Manjhi is silent, know the secret.
Another NDA ally from Bihar, Hindustan Awami Morcha (HUM) leader and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has not yet opened his mouth on the latest Supreme Court verdict. Manjhi belongs to the Mashar caste which constitutes 3% of Bihar’s population. Nitish has also included Mazhar caste in the Mahadalit list. Since the Musharais are very backward in terms of availing the benefits of reservation, the latest decision of the Supreme Court will be very beneficial for them. This is the secret of Jitan Ram Manjhi’s silence.
Opposition to RJD, but why?
On the other hand, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is part of the Congress’s Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (India), has also opposed the Supreme Court’s decision like the LJP (Ram Vilas).
Welcomed by Nishad and Rajbhar.
BJP’s allies in Uttar Pradesh, the Nishad Party and the Sohail Dev Bharatiya Samaj Party (Sabhashpa), have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad has called for his caste to be included in the SC list, while Sabha SP chief OP Rajbhar has said special OBCs within OBC reservation in Uttar Pradesh. There should be reservation facility for.
Strong opposition from Mayawati and Chandrasekhar
Along with this, Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Chandrasekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party (ASP) have reacted strongly to the Supreme Court’s decision. Both of them have said that actually the Supreme Court decision is a way to end Dalit reservation through the back door.
What did Prakash Ambedkar say?
On the other hand, Prakash Ambedkar’s Vinchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in Maharashtra has also strongly opposed the decision to sub-categorize Dalits. Prakash Ambedkar is believed to be influential in the Mahar caste of Maharashtra. Mahar caste is the strongest among Dalits in Maharashtra. Interestingly, all the regional parties of South India have wholeheartedly welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court.
