RJD released statement, guarantees reservation

Patna, Apr 8 The RJD on Monday released its statement, titled 'Pratibadhta Patra', promising reservation for SCs, STs, EBC and OBCs in proportion of their populace in the private sector and the higher judiciary.

The ceiling - a 50 percent cap - had been broken in the wake of giving 10 percent quota to the weaker sections among the general class so the general category having a place with these classifications (SCs, STs, EBC and OBCs) ought to be given reservation based on their populace, party leader Tejashwi Yadav said while releasing the manifesto here.

The apex court had fixed a top of 50 percent on complete reservation and the Center a month ago defended in Supreme Court its ongoing law allowing 10-percent standard for Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs), saying it was acquired to advance "social fairness".

Advocating extension of amount for them in higher judiciary and the private area, the manifesto also promised to carry out caste-based census in 2020-21.

Pointing out that the RJD, also concurs with the Congress manifesto, it stated, the party "totally underwrites" the 'Nyay' plan of the Congress, which would be useful to states like Bihar.

Tejashwi Yadav was joined by Rajya Sabha member and party's national representative Manoj Jha, Bihar RJD chief Ram Chandra Purve and others at the release of the gathering's proclamation.

The RJD also demanded from the Center to make open the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) information, completed by the UPA government.

Releasing the manifesto, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, also the leader of the opposition in the state, said that "it isn't the manifesto of RJD, rather it is a 'pratibadhta patra' (commitment document) of the party".

A helpline number would be launched and a help centre set up in real urban areas of the nation for the people of Bihar living outside the state, the manifesto said.

The party would guarantee that six percent of gross domestic product be spent on instruction and four percent on health, he said.

"If our (party's) government is formed in Bihar, then we will remove the 'illegal' tag on toddy and make it 'legal'....The move to make flavor unlawful has rendered many belonging to economically weaker sections jobless.

"My dad Lalu Prasad, when he was the chief minister, had abolished tax on toddy," the RJD leader said.

Answering to a question on his elder sibling Tej Pratap Yadav's recent activities, Tejashwi dodged an immediate answer, saying "the public interview has been sorted out for releasing the manifesto today".

According to seat-sharing formula for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar declared by the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan', 20 seats will be battled by the RJD and nine by the Congress. Of the 20 constituencies, the RJD has left the Ara seat to the CPI(ML) Liberation.

Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Mukesh Sahni's Vikasheel Insan Party (VIP) will field candidates on five and three seats individually. Previous boss priest Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) has been given three seats.

The seven-phase election in Bihar is planned from April 11 to May 19