Nitish govt wants to divide SC, ST: Paswan

Warning against any move to "divide" the Dalit community, LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan on Sunday alleged that the Nitish Kumar government was seeking to do this in Bihar by coining the terminology 'Mahadalit'.

Warning against any move to "divide" the Dalit community, LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan on Sunday alleged that the Nitish Kumar government was seeking to do this in Bihar by coining the terminology 'Mahadalit'.

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"The Nitish Kumar government has adopted a divide and rule policy... The SC and ST members should be cautious of his politics to divide the Dalits by coining the expression Mahadalit and forming a commission ostensibly to chalk out steps to improve their lot", Paswan said in Patna at the 17th annual meeting of fourth grade employees of Patna Municipal Corporation.

He said the expression 'Mahadalit' was more degrading than calling anybody 'Harijan' and neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal never used the word 'Mahadalit' while addressing the members of lower strata of the society.

Paswan said Kumar's previous announcements that three decimals of land would be given to Mushahars (Dalit) remained on papers till date.

"None has received anything till date...These are mere announcements aimed at garnering their votes in favour of NDA... Nitish is playing politics with them," Paswan alleged.