Upper Castes Should Be Given 15% Reservation: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan

Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan is the senior-most Dalit face in the Narendra Modi government. The veteran socialist from Bihar, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), spoke to Kumar Uttam over the protests against the government’s decision to bring in a bill restoring provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Corruption) Act that were seemingly watered down by the Supreme Court in March, reservations in promotion, and upper-caste reservation, among other issues. Excerpts from an interview:

There have been protests against the government’s position on the SC/ST act and reservations in promotion. Is it a worry for the government?

Not at all. Six months ago, we faced so much protest. It had become difficult for ministers to move. The Modi government was called ‘anti-Dalit’ and ‘anti-backward’. People asked me, ‘Paswan-ji, you have been a champion of Dalits, why are you silent?’ A lot of work was done but there was a perception problem. Today, the perception has changed. I often say that only two leaders – VP Singh and Narendra Modi – gave BR Ambedkar his due.

How did this anti-Dalit perception of the government change in six months?

It was a test for the government when the apex court gave a judgment on the SC/ST act. The youth hit the streets. Things would not have turned this bad if an ordinance was brought on day one. We, in a committee headed by home minister Rajnath Singh, decided to bring the ordinance immediately. But bureaucracy has its own speed.

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