Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi asked the Speaker to issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities. NEW DELHI: Union minister and NDA ally Jitan Ram Manjhi has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, backing a BJP MP’s request for adequate speaking time for MPs from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities during parliamentary discussions on important bills.

In his letter, Manjhi said BJP MP Gajendra Singh Patel, who represents Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, had raised the issue during an “NDA MPs Group Dialogue Meeting” held at Manjhi’s Delhi residence on August 5. Patel had specifically requested that SC/ST MPs be given sufficient opportunity to raise issues concerning their communities on the floor of the House, Manjhi said.

The Union minister has asked the Speaker to take further action on Patel’s request and issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities. “It is not that we do not get time, but we should get more time.

More issues concerning SC/ST communities should be raised,” he said. Patel said the request was aimed at ensuring that issues concerning SC/ST communities receive adequate space during parliamentary discussions, while acknowledging that MPs from these communities do get opportunities to speak.

NDA differences over SC/ST reservationEarlier last month, differences within the NDA came to the fore over the contentious issue of sub-categorisation of SC/ST reservations, with Manjhi and fellow Bihar-based Union minister Chirag Paswan taking divergent positions on the question of reviewing the reservation system. The debate intensified after HAM(S) president and Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman reiterated his party’s demand for sub-categorisation of SC/ST reservations, arguing that the most deprived communities should receive a greater share of the benefits.

The Supreme Court’s August 1, 2024 Constitution Bench judgment allowing states to create sub-categories within SC and ST reservations has added a new dimension to the debate. “The constitutional provision of SC/ST reservation is based on social discrimination and not economic status.

If they want to change the Constitution, then debate the issue in Parliament. Those who talk or think about reviewing reservation should first resign, as they actually want to completely end it and reduce its scope,” Chirag said.

He maintained that reservation was in place yesterday, is in place today and would continue in the future. Reacting to Chirag’s demand, Suman said he was ready to resign.