Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said that the reservation system cannot be abolished simply because some people are demanding it. He said reservation is a constitutional right meant to support communities that have faced social discrimination for many years.
Speaking to reporters at Patna airport before leaving for Delhi, Paswan was asked about the student protests at Jantar Mantar against the reservation system.
“Reservation is not something that can be ended at anyone’s demand, nor is it charity given to anyone,” Paswan said. He added that reservation is provided under the Constitution and is not something that a government can give or remove according to its choice.
Reservation Meant for Social Inclusion
Paswan said reservation was introduced to help communities that had faced social discrimination for generations and bring them into the mainstream.
Talking about Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, he said the Constitution recognised the difficulties faced by these communities and provided reservation to support their progress.
He also said that social discrimination has not completely disappeared and incidents still take place in different parts of the country. According to him, this shows why discussions about social justice are still important.
Paswan also referred to an incident in Uttarakhand involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge while speaking about continued discrimination.
On Union Minister Ramdas Athawale’s comments about people protesting against reservation, Paswan said the protesters had the right to raise their concerns.
He said such issues can be resolved through dialogue. He added that discussions with the protesters could help them understand why reservation was introduced and why it remains necessary.
Chirag Responds to Tejashwi Yadav
Paswan also responded to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s comments regarding Bihar’s economic situation.
He said that if the Opposition had concerns about the state’s economy, it should have presented them with proper data when the Bihar Assembly was in session.
According to Paswan, the Opposition’s role is not only to make allegations against the government but also to contribute towards the development of the state.
He said the government is working to increase Bihar’s revenue and plans to focus on bringing more investment, creating jobs and improving development in the coming years.
Paswan also expressed confidence in the “double-engine” government, referring to the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Bihar. He said the government could help strengthen the state’s economy and improve its development prospects.
His comments came at a time when reservation, social justice and Bihar’s economic condition remain major political issues. The reservation debate has also gained fresh attention following the student protests in Delhi.