Ram Vilas Paswan bats for continuation of reservation

PATNA: Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today supported continuation of reservation.

Addressing the three-day Executive Committee Meeting of PTI Federation of Employees Union here, Paswan said reservation existed because "economically weaker sections and poverty are there in the society".

Referring to Mandal Commission, he said no dalit headed it when it was there in 1990.

"V P Singh was the Prime Minister then and after implementation of Mandal Commission, his people had boycotted him," he said.

"Economic disparities are there. Even Bhagwan Dayanand Saraswati, who was a Brahmin, advised to help the poor. Swami Vivekananda too preached to help the poor," he added.

Paswan hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "excellent leadership" and "ushering in work culture".

"When I go abroad, Indians there now say we can hold our heads high when international leaders like U S President Barack Obama praise us and describe us as hard-working people which gives our business a fillip," said Paswan.

The union minister, who visited the flood-hit areas in Bihar, expressed grief over the condition of the poor and farmers.

"Those who feed the people are reeling under poverty," he said.