Patna: Amid a war of words between two NDA Union ministers from Bihar over the reservation issue, leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the BJP and RSS, declaring no one had the guts to do away with reservation. He dared Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan to resign from their respective seats and contest elections from general seats.Tejashwi was reacting to the debate between the two Union ministers over reservation review. While HAM(S) founding president Manjhi has sought a review of the quota so “communities at the bottom of the social and economic hierarchy could benefit”, Chirag has opposed the move.Talking to reporters in Patna, Tejashwi described the differences as part of a BJP-RSS strategy to gauge public opinion.“Union ministers Manjhi and Chirag are making separate statements on reservation at the direction of the RSS. The BJP-RSS wants to assess public sentiment in support of reservation,” Tejashwi alleged.“Those speaking on the issue of reservation receive ‘a message from Nagpur’ about who has to speak in favour and who has to speak against. But till now, no one has the guts to end reservation,” he said.He questioned why those benefiting from reservation were seeking its review and dared Chirag and Manjhi to contest from general seats.“Whether it is Manjhi, Chirag, Nitish Kumar or Upendra Kushwaha, all now stand with the BJP which wants to abolish reservation,” said Tejashwi, also the RJD national working president, adding, “But I have never availed its benefits.”Reacting sharply, state BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma described Tejashwi as a “politically-reserved person” and alleged he and his family had benefited from family legacy. Sharma also alleged the opposition was spreading rumours that the BJP-RSS was against reservation.
