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JD(U) for reservation to Dalit Muslims

Reservation for Dalit Muslims, Christians on the formula of late Karpoori Thakur

PATNA: JD(U) today reiterated for establishing rule of law in the state and assured to provide reservation to the Dalit Muslims and Christians at par with Schedule Castes once the NDA came to power here.

Releasing the manifesto, JD(U) leader and Chief Ministerial candidate of NDA Nitish Kumar told newspersons here that the Dalit Muslims and Christians would be provided reservation like their Hindu counterparts under ten-point programme. The reservation would also be given in promotions.

He advocated for reservation to Dalit Muslims and Christians on the formula of late Karpoori Thakur and added that his government would strive for a change in the Mandal Commission recommendations for providing reservations.

He referred to the survey report of the State Minority Commission which was deliberately not published at the behest of Bihar government and said that the report mentioned about deplorable socio-economic and social conditions of the minorities in the state.

Mr Kumar disclosed programmes the party had planned to woo the Muslims and said his government would modernise all Madarsas.

The party, which was first to release the manifesto, tried to exploit the Muslim sentiments by promising to complete the Bhagalpur riot`s probe.

Mr Kumar made sarcastic remarks at the RJD-Congress combine saying that instead of issuing a manifesto with their "glorious achievements" both should have released a report card.

He said the Congress had become a shield for RJD`s 15 years misrule during which unemployment increased whereas educational scenario plummeted. Describing the manifesto of RJD-Congress as "irrelevant" in wake of infrastructural condition of the state, he said roads and electricity were in a shambles while the law and order situation remained bad.

Mr Kumar reiterated to revive rule of law in the state within three months of coming to power for overall development of Bihar.

He appealed to the electorate to vote shunning all caste and religious sentiments if they wanted to get rid of the bad image of Bihar. He hoped to rope in investments once the law and order was improved along with other infrastructure.

He admitted the policies and issues in the manifesto released earlier in the month of February were similar.

However, the political scene was totally changed as during the period democracy had been attacked by none other than those in power and injustice was done to the state, he alleged. -- UNI

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