Opinion: SC-ST, Waqf, Lateral Entry, Caste Census… Why is Chirag Paswan not supporting the Modi government on any issue?

New Delhi: chirag paswan Every step of Chirag is showing that he/she has decided to play on the front foot after coming to power at the center. But against whom? If you are in the game of politics, then you have to play in some position or the other, but the big question is – against whom? The game of politics is unique. Here the player sometimes starts scoring goals against his/her own team. Perhaps this is why this game is called politics. It seems that after getting the post at the center, Chirag has paid special attention to his/her stature in politics. As long as he/she was away from the ruling coalition NDA at the center, he/she kept calling himself Hanuman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but as soon as he/she got a place in the NDA government, he/she became ‘vocal for local’. This is the mantra given by Prime Minister Modi. Chirag became so vocal for his/her local constituency that now those who gave this slogan are getting into trouble.

Chirag is constantly echoing the opposition’s voice!

After raising his/her voice against sub-categorization in SC-ST castes, Waqf Amendment Bill, recruitment in Central Secretariat through lateral entry, Chirag has now started batting in favour of caste census. Although he/she has not opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill, he/she is definitely the only minister of the Modi government who demanded to send it to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Just as the opposition had demanded to send the Waqf Bill to JPC, the opposition also opposed sub-categorization in SC-ST and recruitment through lateral entry. The leader of all these is especially former Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Chirag has taken Rahul’s line on all these issues. Now when Rahul has directly challenged PM Modi and said that he/she will get a nationwide caste census done, Chirag has joined the chorus here too.

What’s on Chirag’s mind?

Chirag, his/her Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and his/her supporters can say that they have an independent view on all the above issues, there is no inspiration behind it. Their claim may be absolutely correct, but when the stand of the ruling coalition party on all the issues one after the other fits into the strategy of the opposition, then questions will definitely arise. The question remains that from where is Chirag playing and against whom?

Know what Chirag said on caste census

Chirag has said on caste census, ‘My party has always had a clear stand in favor of caste census. We want caste census because many times both the central and state governments make schemes keeping caste in mind. These schemes are made with the aim of bringing various castes into the mainstream.’ he/she further said, ‘In such a situation, the governments should have accurate data of the population of every caste. At least these figures must be there so that funds can be allocated in proportion to the population. Whether it is a matter of implementing schemes or connecting certain castes to the mainstream, the government should have these figures.’

First Rahul spoke and then Chirag

The special thing is that Chirag Paswan said these things in Ranchi just a day after Rahul Gandhi’s statement on caste census in Prayagraj. The pattern of Chirag Paswan’s stand on the issues mentioned above is also similar – first the opposition raised the issue and then support came from Chirag. The question is that if Chirag has a list of do’s and don’ts for the government, then he/she is a cabinet member, he/she should hand over his/her list to the government. Are the decisions taken by the government not discussed in the cabinet? If they are, then shouldn’t Chirag use that platform to express his/her views? If such big decisions are taken without discussion in the cabinet, then shouldn’t Chirag raise questions on this?

It is okay to oppose the government while being in the government, but…

Joining the government does not mean that every decision of the government should be supported. After all, the democratic spirit will be strengthened only when voices are raised on specific issues not only from the opposition but also from within the ruling party. Democracy will be stronger when the opposition also protests not just for the sake of opposition but on an issue-based basis. Who can object to voices being raised from within the ruling party! But one has to calculate when, where and in what form the objection is coming up. After all, nothing happens in politics just like that, there is a well-thought-out strategy behind everything. Is Chirag’s strategy less about expressing his/her opinion and more about tightening the noose around the government?

After all, whose lamps are these?

After all, Chirag has only five MPs. Chandra Babu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are many times more powerful than him/her. Neither of them had ever called themselves ‘Modi Bhakt’, but they are not vocal today either. They are also doing politics and they are also worried about their vote bank. Then what is that special vote bank of Chirag with which neither Chandra Babu Naidu nor Nitish Kumar have anything to do? Questions will arise, until Chirag does not choose the right platform for his/her questions. There is a poster for Chirag’s rival Nitish Kumar – Nitish belongs to everyone, the question is whose Chirag belongs to?