Separate electorate for SCs, STs needed, says Union minister Manjhi
Patna : Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday advocated for a separate electorate for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes . Addressing his party HAM(S) state council meeting here, Manjhi referred to the Poona Pact proposal of 1932 and said, “If that had happened, Scheduled Caste representatives would have been elected only by Scheduled Caste voters,” he said.
During the meeting, Anil Kumar was unanimously elected as the HAM(S) state president and Avinash Kumar its general secretary.
“Unfortunately, no one in our party talks about the Poona Pact. Today, our seats are reserved, but others take votes from our people. When it comes to jobs, our poor people are left behind. That is why B R Ambedkar had demanded a separate electorate. But Mahatma Gandhi put his foot down against it and went on a fast and Ambedkar was forced to sign the Poona Pact without this clause,” Manjhi claimed.
During the meeting, Anil Kumar was unanimously elected as the HAM(S) state president and Avinash Kumar its general secretary.
“Unfortunately, no one in our party talks about the Poona Pact. Today, our seats are reserved, but others take votes from our people. When it comes to jobs, our poor people are left behind. That is why B R Ambedkar had demanded a separate electorate. But Mahatma Gandhi put his foot down against it and went on a fast and Ambedkar was forced to sign the Poona Pact without this clause,” Manjhi claimed.
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