RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav feels 10 per cent quota will backfire on BJP, here’s why

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said that his party RJD is not against “quota for the poor among upper caste but against the rich among them”.  The RJD leader also said that decision to granting 10 per cent quota to general category poor will ‘backfire’ on the BJP as the "bahujans" (majority) are feeling duped. He also accused the Modi-led NDA government of implementing it in haste, just like demonetisation.

"To make such a provision, the government must have supporting data and figures, but the Modi government doesn't have that. They implemented it in a hurry, just like demonetisation. The BJP will bear the consequences of it," the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said.

When asked about the impact of reservation to the general category poor, Yadav said contrary to the general perception, the reservation for the "so-called poor upper caste" persons will "backfire" on the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

"The Bahujan class is feeling duped... While it was stated that there is a cap of 50 per cent on reservations, but, suddenly the government opens a pandora's box and exceeds reservations beyond 50 per cent, that too without any demand, agitation or movement by beneficiary classes," the former Bihar deputy chief minister said.

"Now, the honourable Supreme Court will have to play by its own yardstick," he said.

The RJD leader alleged the government was changing the narrative from caste-based atrocities to economic status to suit its "upper caste mindset".

"On what basis did the government give 10 per cent reservation to those who are already enjoying de facto 50 per cent reservation and in reality much more than that. And what about the caste-based census data? Why it is being hidden by the government? Is it a banana republic or a democracy" he asked.