Six parties have united, not their hearts: Ram Vilas Paswan

He said only six months are left for Assembly elections in Bihar but the new Janata Parivar was yet to get a concrete shape. “They have made Mulayam Singh Yadav the president of the new outfit. But what is the name of the party and what is its election symbol. What will be its flag? Who will be the office bearers,” he asked, adding RJD and JD (U) leaders want to retain existence of their parties and do now want to let go their election symbols.

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He said the new entity has ignored to give representation to the Dalits, while the entire politics of former Prime Minister V P Singh, who had led the old Janata Parivar, focussed on welfare of the backward castes and Dalits. Paswan said he was closest to V P Singh but parties such as SP, JD(U), RJD and others, who have now come together, did not associate themselves with the old Janata Parivar.

Paswan said Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) senior leader Nitish Kumar has been exposed on the issue of Dalit as he first made a Maha Dalit, Jitan Ram Majhi, the CM, and later insulted him by removing him from the post.

Paswan’s statement on Dalits has came at a time when his Lok Janshakti Party has started a series of Dalit Mahapanchayats in UP while NDA senior partner BJP is holding programmes across the state to mark 125th birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated the construction of Ambedkar’s memorial in Maharashtra.

The Union minister said the Janata Parivar has been formed by the parties that are scared of Modi.

Replying to a question, Paswan said he would ensure reservation in promotions. “The proposal for the same was put in the first cabinet meeting. We brought a bill in this regard in Lok Sabha and it would be passed,” he said adding that the move was languishing for 10 years due to opposition by Mulayam.

Earlier, Paswan said he has appealed the UP government to implement Food Security Act at the earliest. The unseasonal rain and hailstorm has damaged the crop in various states and Prime Minister has relaxed the norms for compensation and increased its amount. He said that Centre has relaxed the norms in quality of wheat for procurement more in UP that other states.

Paswan also said that Mandi system was a failure in UP because Mandis were not getting commission for procurement exercise. He said that FCI has been directed to open more procurement centres in the state.