New Delhi: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan has openly opposed the recent Supreme Court decision allowing states to implement creamy layer in Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories. Chirag Paswan is preparing to file a review petition against this decision and for this, he has decided to garner the support of Scheduled Caste MPs from various political parties.

Plan to mobilize Scheduled Caste MPs

Chirag Paswan has planned to call a formal meeting of Scheduled Caste MPs to protest against this decision of the Supreme Court. The purpose of this meeting is to know the views of the MPs on this issue and to unite them. Chirag has already made it clear that he disagrees with this decision and LJP will file a review petition in the Supreme Court on this issue.

Political ramifications of the verdict

This decision of the Supreme Court can have far-reaching political implications. Although many major national parties are silent on this issue, Chirag Paswan and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have openly opposed this decision. This makes it clear that there can be a big stir in Dalit politics on this issue.

Support of Jitan Ram Manjhi

NDA ally Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has praised this decision of the Supreme Court. Manjhi believes that with the implementation of a creamy layer, people from marginalized sections of society will also be able to avail the benefits of reservation. He said that most of the posts in jobs and educational institutions are held by affluent Scheduled Castes, due to which the poor and marginalized people are deprived of the benefits.

Chirag and Manjhi have different stances

While Chirag Paswan is strongly opposing this decision, Jitan Ram Manjhi has called it a step in the right direction. Manjhi says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instruction that there should be no creamy layer is absolutely correct. However, he also said that instead of reconsideration, this issue should be reviewed, so that the deprived section of the society can also get justice.

Next step

LJP is going to take its next step on this issue soon. Chirag Paswan is moving towards filing a review petition in the Supreme Court by mobilizing Dalit MPs on this issue. This makes it clear that LJP is not in the mood to make any compromise on this issue.