North India Statesman
News India Live, Digital Desk: Once again a new debate has erupted in Bihar politics regarding reservation and caste equations. Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s close aide and powerful minister Ashok Chaudhary has given a statement which has created a stir in the political circles. Chaudhary has demanded that the Muslims who earlier belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and became Muslims after conversion, but are still living in the condition like Dalits, should get the benefit of reservation.
What is Ashok Chaudhary’s argument?
Minister Ashok Choudhary says that social and economic backwardness is not limited to religion only. He argued that there are many Muslim communities whose status and occupation are similar to that of Dalits even today. He said, “If a person has converted from a Hindu Dalit to a Muslim, but there is no improvement in his social condition, then why should he be kept out of the scope of reservation?”
‘Pasmanda’ card or social justice?
Political experts believe that this stand of JDU could be a big exercise to woo the ‘Pasmanda’ Muslims in Bihar. Earlier too, Nitish Kumar has been making separate strategies for extremely backward people and Mahadalits. Now the party is doing a new social engineering experiment by advocating bringing ‘Dalit Muslims’ into the mainstream of reservation.
Questions raised on opposition and constitution
Opposition parties and constitutional experts have different opinions on this statement of Ashok Chaudhary. At present, under Article 341 of the Indian Constitution, only Dalits following Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religions have SC status. In such a situation, the stance of the Central Government and the courts on the demand of including Muslims in this category will be very important.
What will be the impact on Bihar politics?
In view of the upcoming elections, this statement of Ashok Chaudhary is considered very important.
Vote Bank: Will this create a new alliance of Muslim and Dalit votes?
JDU’s strategy: Will Nitish Kumar further strengthen his ‘secular’ image through this issue?
Alliance’s stance: It will be interesting to see how BJP reacts to this as they have been against the benefits of reservation after conversion.
