Chief Minister Nitish Kumar clarified his stand on reservation in the outsourced jobs, hitting back at his rivals — lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav — and the recent scandals.
Interacting with the media after weekly lok Samwad on Monday, Nitish replied to a variety of questions but refused to reply or comment on RJD supremo’s “ghatia” (cheap) statements and branded him “bhrashtachar ke prodha” (icon of corruption).
On reservation in the outsourced jobs which had been approved by the Cabinet and the issue has come under criticism by some BJP leaders, the Chief Minister said the reservation policy has been implemented as per the Bihar Reservation Act. “Such recruitment by the private companies are not by the Government but they are paid from the Government funds and the agencies are bound to follow the policy,” he said and reminded that in the recruitment of ex servicemen in the Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) force the quota policy had been implemented.
The Chief Minister said he favoured reservation in private sector too but it was up to the Centre to take a decision with amendment in the constitution. He added that even in contract jobs too reservation policy has been implemented but said that he favoured regular recruitment and has asked all the Government departments to go for regular recruitment instead of outsourced jobs.
Nitish said those criticising the policy were not aware of the basics of the law and have started a meaningless debate. BJP’s senior leader CP Thakur has vehemently opposed quota in outsourced jobs.
Over the ongoing acidic attacks and counter attacks by the leaders of RJD, including lalu and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, and the spokesmen of the JD(U), Nitish said in his 45 years of political career he never used below standard language and added that it was not possible for him to speak below the belt talks. “When people are out of power and desperate they use such language. I will never reply to such attacks on me but it is not necessary that everyone follow my footstep and so they are replying,” he said and added, “I am going to ask my party’s spokesmen not to retaliate on people attacking me.”
But Nitish reiterated that he took a decision to severe ties with RJD in the larger interest of Bihar and its people and now he was in the same alliance in which had been four years ago.” Everyday I feel I did good in parting ways with that alliance and now I am engaged in development work.
“It is ironic that the person who went to jail and now sending his children to jail is giving me sermon on corruption and morality,” he said.
On attacks from former JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, the Chief Minister said, “Sharad ji is a lucky person as he did not get so much publicity in 40 years which he got in just four months.” Sharad is touring Bihar to “expose” Nitish for abusing the mandate.