Nitish seeks separate reservation for EBCs
January 25, 2010: The Hindu
PATNA: Addressing a large gathering at a Economically Backward Class (EBC) conclave commemorating the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and EBC leader, Mr. Karpoori Thakur, Bihar Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar on Sunday demanded that EBCs in the country should be accorded separate reservation on a national level.
Mr. Kumar said that there was “a huge backlog in filling up of even the SC/ST jobs at the Centre.¶
The conclave is seen as a Janata Dal (United) drive to strengthen the party’s EBC base prior to the Assembly elections in the State.
Mr Kumar said late Mr. Thakur was responsible for making the EBCs aware of their political rights and demanded that he should posthumously be bestowed with the Bharat Ratna – the country’s highest civilian award.
Mr. Kumar pointed out that it was vital that the EBCs stop undermining their unity by indulging in petty inter-caste skirmishes.
“Please recognise the fact that you (the EBC community) people have emerged as the most potent force in today’s political environment. Keep up this unity and you will not need a bada bhai or a chota bhai [referring to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and himself respectively] as your leader,¶ said Mr. Kumar.
“It is our government’s hallmark that we have been able to move along with every section during our tenure. We have made no discriminations,¶ said Mr. Kumar, adding that “the NDA alliance had succeeded in establishing an inclusive democracy in Bihar.¶ In a direct retort to Mr. Prasad’s statement on price rise, Mr. Kumar said the RJD supremo had been making merry with the Congress for five years and said that the JD (U) would battle on till the prices of essential commodities had come down to what they were five years, and not merely six months, ago.
“The opposition is bent on disturbing this hard-gotten peace in Bihar,¶ said Mr. Kumar, pointing to the January 28 bandh to be staged by the RJD-LJP combine.
Attacking the RJD-LJP combine and JD (U) rebels, Mr. Kumar said that the current government’s policies for the uplift of the SC/ STs, EBCs and Muslims was “causing them great discomfiture.¶
