Tejashwi Yadav to Lead September 1 Agitation for Caste Survey Inclusion

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav announced a protest on September 1, demanding the inclusion of the 2023 caste survey findings under Schedule 9 of the Constitution. Yadav emphasized the importance of reservation and criticized BJP's stance. The Bihar legislature recently amended reservation acts, raising quotas based on the survey findings.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav announced that his party will hold an agitation on September 1 to demand the inclusion of the 2023 caste survey findings under Schedule 9 of the Constitution. Yadav confirmed that he would join the protest set to occur across Bihar.

Yadav stated, "We had mentioned this earlier too. Our Government had provided 65 per cent reservation for OBC, SC, and ST, including a proposal for Schedule 9. The matter is sub-judice. We knew that the BJP didn't want it. It wanted to end the reservation, so it didn't include it in Schedule 9. If not presented well in Court, RJD would move to the Supreme Court. We have announced an agitation on September 1 in Bihar, and I will be a part of it." In June, the Patna High Court struck down the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Act, 2023 and The Bihar (In admission in Educational Institutions) Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 as ultra vires and violative of Articles 14, 15, and 16.

The Bihar legislature had amended both Acts in 2023, increasing reservations in jobs and higher education from 50 per cent to 65 per cent. The state government raised quotas for SC to 20 per cent, Scheduled Tribes to two per cent, Extremely Backward Classes to 25 per cent, and Backward Class to 18 per cent based on the caste survey findings.

Notably, Union Minister Chirag Paswan expressed support for the Caste Census, stating that it is essential since many governmental schemes consider caste. Schedule 9 of the Indian Constitution lists central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)