Patna, (Bihar Times): The recommendations made by the
Maha Dalit Commission for special preference to 18 out
of 22 Dalit sub-castes has generated a new controversy
in the state with Rajak Chetna Sammelan on Sunday
demanding their inclusion in the list. The Commission
had excluded Paswan (Dussadh), Chamar, Pasi and Rajak from the list of Maha Dalits on the plea that they are
relatively better off and that they have walked away
with all the beneficiaries meant for the entire Dalit
population.
The Sunday meeting was incidentally held under the
chairmanship of the former Union minister and Janata
Dal (United) MLA, Dasai Chaudhary, and the chief
minister Nitish Kumar was expected to attend it as the
chief guest. However, he did not turn up and the
organizers had to sheepishly announce that he could
not come because he was busy chalking out strategy for
the Bikramganj by-election.
Initially the demand for the inclusion of Rajak was
not in the agenda but the orgaizers of the Sammelan
were compelled by the participants to do so. Among
other things the Sammelan demanded the constitution of
State SC-ST Commission, proper maintenance of Dhobi
Ghat all over the state, making available washing
machines and detergent at the subsidized rate and
sending at least one member of the community each to
the Rajya Sabha and state Legislature Council.
It needs to be mentioned that the Lok Janshakti Party,
in its November 28 Sankalp Rally demanded the
constitution of the SC-ST Commission. The RJD too made
a similar demand. Now by making such a demand the
Rajak Chetna Sammelan had virtually dittoed what the
opposition parties had been asking for.