Modi govt hostile towards caste survey in Bihar: Lalu Prasad

PATNA: RJD president Lalu Prasad on Saturday charged the Narendra Modi government at the Centre with having a hostile attitude towards the caste survey conducted in Bihar.

Addressing a book release function here, Lalu Prasad claimed oppression of backward classes, SCs and STs continued since “feudal traits do not go away so easily”.

“The prime minister of this country seems distressed with castes. He keeps mentioning ‘Jati’ in his speeches, perhaps he thinks this social reality will not let him enjoy peace. He is right if he thinks so,” remarked Prasad with a hint of sarcasm, without mentioning Modi or the BJP by name.

He, however, alleged that the BJP government at the Centre betrayed its “hatred” towards the caste survey ordered by his ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, when the Solicitor General of India made a submission before the Supreme Court which was hearing petitions challenging the exercise.

“Why must there not be a caste survey? Without having the actual data, we are remaining content with affirmative action based on presumptions, and allocations for weaker sections doled out as if it were a great favour when it was a matter of right,” said the former chief minister of Bihar, arguably the tallest leader to emerge out of the 1990s Mandal wave.

Nitish Kumar had on Friday said the caste-based survey in the state has been completed and the state government would soon make the data public.

Lalu Prasad, who takes pride in having been at the helm in Bihar when recommendations of Mandal Commission were implemented and BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was arrested, cutting short the “Ram Rath Yatra”, also reaffirmed his commitment to “social justice and communal harmony”.