Bihar Reservation Debate: JD(U) Hits Back at Tejashwi Yadav

Aide to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar rebukes Tejashwi Yadav for demanding inclusion of state reservation laws in the Constitution's 9th Schedule after the Patna High Court struck them down. Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary highlights the state's Supreme Court appeal and accuses Yadav of misleading the public.

A key aide to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday rebuked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for pressing his demand for the inclusion of the state's amended reservation laws in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution. The laws ceased to exist after being struck down by the Patna High Court.

Senior minister in Kumar's cabinet and JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary pointed out that the state government has already approached the Supreme Court against the Patna High Court's decision to strike down the increase in reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and backward classes from 50 percent to 65 percent.

Chaudhary accused Yadav, the former deputy CM and now opposition leader, of staging a farce by holding a dharna on the issue on September 1. 'Yadav is simply pretending to be sympathetic towards those affected by the high court's decision. He is demanding the inclusion of the state law in the 9th schedule, which is sheer pretension,' Chaudhary told reporters. He also claimed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had genuinely pushed for a caste survey in the state and was concerned for the upliftment of marginalized communities.

(With inputs from agencies.)