Will hand over backward class welfare dept's charge to CM Adityanath, says disgruntled minister ON Prakash Rajbhar

UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar Thursday said he would hand over the charge of the backward class welfare department to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while expressing disappointment that his recommendations in appointment of state backward castes panel members have been "ignored".

Rajbhar said he would, however, continue to be in charge of the empowerment of persons with disabilities department.

The minister, whose Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, said "A number of people from backwards castes had applied for various posts in the UP State Commission for Backward Classes. A list was prepared, and names of 28 persons were proposed by us (ministry)."

"After the file reached the chief minister's office, we came to know that names of 27 people are missing. Chairman, vice-chairman were arbitrarily made. Now what is the relevance of this minister?" a disgruntled Rajbhar told PTI here.

"When a minister cannot have a say in selection of a member and all the work is to be done by the chief minister, then what is the point of the department being handled by me. The social justice panel's recommendations are waiting to be implemented. If the Backward Class Welfare Department is with me, then it is my job to fight for them and for their rights," he said.

The committee, constituted in May last year, had in its recommendations to the state government, favoured division of backward castes in three categories backward, very backward and most backward.

Backward classes account for about 44 per cent of the electorate in the state and play a crucial role in making or marring political prospects of any party.

The panel's recommendation to classify various OBC and Dalit sub-castes into three broad categories and provide quota within quota to them is likely to spice up the political scene in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Rajbhar also alleged discrepancies in distribution of scholarship to children hailing from backward castes.

"When you speak about sabka saath sabka vikas, then there should be a parity. When you indulge in 'manmaani' (arbitrary conduct), then what will you do by taking us along? Are we only there to fetch votes for you?," the SBSP leader posed.

Rajbhar said, "I will hand over the backward class welfare department to chief minister requesting him to run it. I do not want it. However, I will continue to run the empowerment of persons with disabilities department."

In 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP had bagged 312 out of 403 seats, while SBSP had won four seats. Another ally of the coalition, the Apna Dal (Sonelal), had won nine seats.
On February 10, the SBSP had warned that it will part ways with the BJP if the recommendations of the Social Justice Committee are not implemented by February 24.

"If the BJP does not agree to the demands raised by us, we will definitely part ways with them. If it does not implement the recommendations of the Social Justice Committee by February 24, then our path would be separate, and subsequently,

we will contest in all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state," SBSP general secretary Arun Rajbhar told PTI.

He also said, "We can even go with the anti-BJP alliance if the need rises. A number of talks have been held with them. This is the last warning. After February 24, there will be no agreement with the BJP.

-PTI