Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi spar over SC/ST quotas, seek each other's resignation

Two Cabinet ministers in the Narendra Modi-led government- Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, sparred on Saturday over the issue of reservation, with both leaders demanding each other's resignation.

The dispute originated after Union minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son, Santosh Kumar Suman, called for a review of the quota policy and voiced support for the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) within the reservation framework.

“I think the purpose of reservation has not been served. The concept of creating the Mahadalit category with 18 of the 22 Dalit caste groups has been defeated due to the wide gap among the beneficiaries. The Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) category was created out of the other backward castes (OBCs), and the same was true for the concept of economically weaker sections (EWS) among the upper castes,” Suman said.


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“How can it be wrong to ask which sections have benefited from reservation and to what extent, and which people standing at the very bottom of the social ladder remain deprived of it? Why is no DM or SP from the Musahar community, which has 4 percent population in Bihar? A comparative study is needed. Why will one section get 8 percent and another 80 percent among the beneficiaries?” he added.

Chirag Paswan counters Hindustani Awam Morcha

These comments drew a strong response from fellow NDA ally Chirag Paswan. The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries asserted that if Manjhi and his son advocate for sub-quotas and a creamy layer in SC reservation, the Union minister ought to step down.

"People ask, 'Why isn't there a 'creamy layer' provision?' Well, let them give it up, then - let them stop availing the benefits of reservation," Paswan said.

"If Jitan Ram Manjhi feels these measures should be implemented, should he not resign first? Let him introduce the 'creamy layer' concept - after all, he would fall under that category too, wouldn't he? He should resign, and his son - who is present here - should resign as well," he added.

Paswan also maintained that reservation is rooted in social factors and framing it through an economic lens "goes against the Constitution."

"The basis is social - specifically, the issue of untouchability within society," he stated.

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Jitam Ram Manjhi’s response

Later that day, Jitan Ram Manjhi criticized his Cabinet colleague, alleging that Paswan shows no concern for the underprivileged.

"People will end up being deprived of the benefits of reservation because of this stance. However, we maintain that this division is essential in the broader public interest.

"Since he (Chirag) does not want to look after the interests of our poor people, he should resign," Manjhi added.

SC-ST quota row

The row arises from a 2024 Supreme Court verdict permitting states to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to guarantee that reservation benefits reach the most disadvantaged communities within these groups.

The court also instructed governments to formulate appropriate parameters to exclude the ‘creamy layer’ within SCs and STs from reservation benefits.

However, the Centre filed an affidavit informing the Supreme Court that the creamy layer concept cannot be applied to SCs and STs, clarifying that the rule currently pertains exclusively to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

"It has nowhere specifically been held that the principle of creamy layer is applicable to SCs and STs. The reference made to the concept of creamy layer… appears to be the general observation with regard to reservation in respect of OBCs (Other Backward Classes)/SEBCs (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes)."

(With inputs from TOI)