Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi have clashed over the demand for a separate sub-category within the Scheduled Caste quota, with the disagreement escalating into calls for each other’s resignation.

The dispute began after Manjhi and his son, Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman, backed the idea of a sub-quota aimed at the most deprived sections among Dalits. Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), opposed the proposal, arguing that it could create divisions within the community.

Chirag Paswan opposes sub-quota

Responding to questions about Manjhi and Suman’s position, Paswan said a separate sub-category would create a division within the Dalit community.

He also linked the issue to the debate over the creamy layer and said those supporting the concept should give up their respective posts.

Paswan’s position is also consistent with the stand taken by his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, who had opposed the creation of a separate “Mahadalit” category in Bihar during Nitish Kumar’s tenure as chief minister.

Jitan Manjhi demands Paswan’s resignation

Manjhi rejected Paswan’s criticism and said it was Chirag Paswan who should resign.

The former Bihar chief minister argued that some Dalit communities are more vulnerable than others and therefore require targeted welfare measures through a separate sub-category.

Manjhi also questioned the relevance of the creamy-layer issue to the demand for a sub-quota.

Santosh Suman backs father

Santosh Kumar Suman also entered the dispute through posts on X. Without naming Paswan directly, he referred to him as his “younger brother” and said he would resign alongside Paswan if the latter took the lead.

Suman maintained that his position was neither against reservations nor in favour of introducing a creamy layer. He argued that a quota within the existing quota system was different from the creamy-layer concept.

He also cited communities including Musahar, Bhuia, Nat and Dom, saying they continue to face discrimination even within the Scheduled Castes.

JD(U) seeks to end quota controversy

The Janata Dal (United), the second-largest NDA constituent in Bihar after the BJP, sought to defuse the dispute.

JD(U) legislature party leader and state minister Shrawon Kumar said reservations were introduced through the Constitution and that there should be no dispute over quotas.

The disagreement between the two Union ministers comes amid a wider political debate over the distribution of reservation benefits among different Dalit communities.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct the registration of an FIR over the alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ or purification ritual conducted at a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

The venue at Ramlila Maidan was used by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for a party rally on August 8. Two days later, on August 10, an organisation called Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas conducted a ‘shuddhikaran havan’ at the ground.

Gandhi described the incident as a form of untouchability and alleged that it reflected the mindset of the BJP and RSS. He also sought action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Rahul Gandhi calls incident ‘untouchability’

Addressing a press conference, Gandhi said the incident should not be viewed only in the context of Kharge but as an issue concerning Dalits more broadly.

He said there were “two ideologies” fighting in the country — the ideology of the Constitution and that of the BJP-RSS. Gandhi alleged that Dalits continue to face discrimination in different parts of the country despite constitutional safeguards.

Referring to the Haldwani incident, he alleged that the purification of the venue after Kharge’s rally amounted to untouchability.

Gandhi also claimed that similar incidents involving Dalit leaders had occurred elsewhere and said the Congress would seek action against those responsible for the Haldwani ritual.

Rahul Gandhi seeks FIR under SC/ST Act

Gandhi said the Congress wanted an FIR against those who conducted the purification ceremony.

He alleged that the Prime Minister’s government claims to represent all castes, while BJP leaders had defended the Haldwani ceremony. Gandhi therefore urged PM Modi to direct registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act.

He further said the incident went beyond Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and concerned Dalits across the country.

BJP denies involvement in Haldwani ritual

Uttarakhand BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta rejected Gandhi’s allegations that the BJP or government was behind the incident.

Tamta said the Ramlila ground did not belong to the BJP and that religious programmes were regularly held there. He said the ground had been cleaned after litter was left following the political rally.

According to Tamta, the cleaning was not ordered by the government and was carried out by a religious organisation. He also denied that the incident reflected the kind of discrimination alleged by Gandhi.

Organisation denies BJP-RSS connection

The organisation that conducted the ‘shuddhikaran havan’, Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas, also denied any association with the BJP or RSS.

Its president Girish Chandra Pandey said the ritual was conducted because the Hindu community’s sentiments had allegedly been hurt. He cited Kharge’s earlier remarks about Hindu organisations and the use of the Ramlila ground for a political programme.

Pandey also claimed that four Dalits were among those who participated in the havan.

The Haldwani incident has since turned into a political controversy, with the Congress demanding action and BJP leaders denying any connection with the purification ceremony.

B Nagendra resigned from the Karnataka cabinet on Friday, August 28, amid continued political pressure over alleged financial irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

Nagendra, who had returned to the cabinet earlier this month after D K Shivakumar became Karnataka Chief Minister, became emotional while announcing his resignation. He said the decision was taken voluntarily and denied that the Congress leadership had asked him to step down.

“I take my own decisions,” Nagendra said when asked whether the party high command had directed him to resign.

Why B Nagendra resigned

The controversy relates to alleged irregularities of Rs. 89 crore in the Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. The issue came to light in May 2024 after corporation accounts officer Chandrasekharan P died by suicide and left behind a note alleging unauthorised transfers of funds.

Subsequent investigations found that large amounts had been transferred from the corporation’s bank accounts to other accounts.

Nagendra, who was the Tribal Welfare Minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet at the time, had resigned in June 2024 amid the controversy.

He was re-inducted into the cabinet on August 3 after Shivakumar took over as Chief Minister and was given the Planning and Statistics portfolio.

Nagendra denies allegations

While announcing his latest resignation, Nagendra questioned the allegations against him and said the BJP had been asked several times to discuss them in the Karnataka Assembly.

He alleged that the BJP was targeting him because he is a Dalit and accused the party of having an anti-tribal mindset. He also alleged that the BJP wanted to “impose the Manusmriti”.

Nagendra said he was resigning of his own free will and became emotional during the announcement.

BJP protest puts pressure on Congress

The Karnataka BJP has announced a 10-day foot march from Raichur to Ballari from September 1 to 10. The party plans to highlight what it describes as failures of the Congress government.

Nagendra’s re-induction into the cabinet was expected to be one of the major issues during the 200-km march. Other issues listed by the BJP include farmer distress, unemployment and alleged corruption in recruitment.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi is scheduled to inaugurate the march, according to Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra.