Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Chirag Paswan, Jitan Manjhi Clash Over Dalit Sub-Quota
Several Indian politicians are arguing about how Dalit communities should receive reservation benefits.
Chirag Paswan does not want a smaller quota inside the existing Dalit quota.
He says this could divide the Dalit community.
Jitan Ram Manjhi supports special help for Dalit groups that are more disadvantaged.
His son, Santosh Kumar Suman, says this proposal is different from the creamy-layer idea.
They cited Musahar, Bhuia, Nat and Dom communities as facing discrimination even among Scheduled Castes.
Paswan and Manjhi challenged each other to resign over their disagreement.
The Janata Dal (United) asked politicians to stop the dispute.
Paswan and Manjhi also criticized Congress while discussing discrimination against Dalits.
Chirag Paswan opposed a separate sub-category for the most deprived Dalit sections, saying it could create a schism within the community.
Jitan Ram Manjhi supported targeted welfare for relatively more vulnerable Dalit castes through a sub-category.
Santosh Kumar Suman said a quota within a quota is different from the creamy-layer concept and cited discrimination against Musahar, Bhuia, Nat and Dom communities.
Paswan asked supporters of the proposal to support the creamy-layer concept and resign, while Manjhi said Paswan should resign instead.
The Janata Dal (United) urged an end to the dispute, saying reservations were established through the Constitution by B. R. Ambedkar.
- Who
- Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman, and Janata Dal (United) leader Shrawon Kumar.
- What
- They disputed whether a separate sub-category, or quota within a quota, should be created for the most deprived Dalit sections.
- When
- Saturday, August 29; the year is not specified in the articles.
- Where
- The dispute was reported from Bihar, including comments associated with Patna and Gaya; the broader discussion also referred to an incident in Varanasi.
- Why
- Manjhi and Suman said relatively more vulnerable Dalit castes need targeted welfare, while Paswan said a separate category could divide the community.
Supporters of targeted sub-quotas
Opponents of separate Dalit categories
Targeted welfare
Supporters of targeted sub-quotas
Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Kumar Suman say some Dalit castes are relatively more vulnerable and need focused welfare through a sub-category.
Opponents of separate Dalit categories
Chirag Paswan says creating a separate category could divide the Dalit community.
Sub-quota versus creamy layer
Supporters of targeted sub-quotas
Suman says a quota within a quota is fundamentally different from the creamy-layer concept and is not opposition to reservations.
Opponents of separate Dalit categories
Paswan asked supporters of the proposal to support the creamy-layer concept and give up their posts.
Resignation challenge
Supporters of targeted sub-quotas
Manjhi said Paswan should resign because he did not understand the proposal’s broader interests for Dalits; Suman offered to resign alongside Paswan if Paswan took the lead.
Opponents of separate Dalit categories
Paswan called on supporters of the sub-category to support their position and resign.
- Main dispute
- Whether to create a separate sub-category or quota within the Dalit quota for the most deprived sections.
- Chirag Paswan’s position
- He opposes the sub-category, saying it could create a schism within the Dalit community.
- Jitan Ram Manjhi’s position
- He supports targeted welfare for relatively more vulnerable Dalit castes through a sub-category.
- Santosh Kumar Suman’s position
- He said a quota within a quota is different from introducing a creamy layer.
- Communities cited
- Musahar, Bhuia, Nat and Dom communities were cited as facing discrimination within the Scheduled Castes.
- Earlier Bihar policy
- Paswan’s position follows his late father Ram Vilas Paswan’s opposition to Bihar’s separate Mahadalit category.
- JD(U) response
- The Janata Dal (United) called for an end to the controversy over reservations.
