Ready to sacrifice for quota to SCs/STs: CM Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Defending reservation in government jobs for the members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday asked how people left out on the sidelines would be brought into the mainstream if they were not provided quota in government jobs.
Addressing a division-level ‘Dalit-Mahadalit sammelan’ at Munger, the CM said those who make statements against the provisions of reservation wanted to create an atmosphere of confusion and social conflict in the society.The sammelan was organized by JD(U).
“I want to make it very clear that no one on this earth can end the provisions of reservation for the SC and ST in the country. People like us are ready to make all sacrifices for this cause,” Nitish said.
Nitish, who is also the JD(U) national president, said his government introduced reservation for SCs, STs and backward classes in panchayati raj institutions in 2006 and reserved 50% of the seats for women from all sections of the society.
Referring to the state government’s recent achievement of providing electricity connection to all households across the state, the CM said earlier when there was acute shortage of power in rural areas, parents in villages used to discourage their children from going out home during night hours by saying there were ghosts lurking in the dark.
“Now, when all the households across the state have been provided electricity connection, children cannot be scared with the fear of ghosts. With the completion of ‘Har Ghar Bijli Yojana’, the ghosts from all villages have been made to flee,” CM said.
Prominent other JD(U) leaders who addressed the sammelan were ministers Maheshwar Hajari, Shailesh Kumar, Ramesh Rishidesh, former education minister and MLC Ashok Choudhary, former minister and MLA Shyam Rajak, MLAs Ratnesh Sada and Ravi Jyoti.