Bihar polls: LJP promises quota in private sector

Patna: Reservation will be extended to the private sector if LJP is voted to power in Bihar, its president Ram Vilas Paswan said on Friday while ruling out any change in the existing quota policy, even that "of a coma or full stop".

"We will strictly follow the reservation as it is a constitutional right and no government can alter it. On behalf of the government, I can tell you that even a minor change of a coma or full stop will not be effected in the existing reservation system.

"These people (Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar) are unnecessary creating irrelevant things... We will implement reservation in the private sector too," Paswan said while releasing his party's manifesto.

The manifesto of LJP, which is one of the four constituents of NDA in Bihar, not only talked of increasing the threshold limit of existing 50 per cent quota but firmly believed in implementing reservation in private sector if the party comes to power.

Paswan, the union consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister, said if the party comes to power then the threshold limit of existing 50 per cent of quota would be increased and for this a resolution would be passed in the assembly for carrying out constitutional amendment.

Paswan, who was accompanied by his son and Lok Sabha member Chirag, said, "We will implement reservation policy in private sector as jobs are increasing in private sector while that of PSUs and government institutions have witnessed a decline in jobs. We will implement it in private sector step by step."

He, however, made it clear that posts of Classes III and IV would be filled in private sector by people of reserved category and at a later stage the technical posts too would be filled after giving proper training to them.

A controversy surrounding reservation started following RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement of reviewing the existing quota system, after which BJP distanced itself from the remarks.

In the manifesto, the party also promised constitution of a 'Youth Commission' within six months, if the NDA is voted to power.

Keeping an eye on the youth, he said that the idea behind forming a 'Youth Commission' is to examine the issues faced by the youth such as education, unemployment, art, culture, sports etc.

Taking a cue from Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to attract the youth to its party fold, the manifesto talks about doling out free wi-fi in all the government degree and PG colleges, government hostels of the state.

The party promised that it would make the state literate in next 10 years while all the children would be issued health card free of cost after carrying out medical test in the first year of birth. It would help in the treatment of children as it would have details of medical background of the children.

Every village/tola will be connected with power supply by the end of 2018, the manifesto promised. It also said that poor students would get a loan of up to Rs 5 lakh on zero interest for higher education.

The party promised giving 50 per cent of reservation for women in Public Distribution System, besides promising to give 10 decimal of land to the people belonging to SC/ST category.

In the event of riots breaking out, DMs and SPs of the district would be held responsible directly, Paswan said.