Patna, August 7: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi‘s recent expression of concern for the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand against the JPPSC paper leak has drawn criticism from JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar.
Kumar questioned, “I have repeatedly asked why Rahul Gandhi has remained silent. Why is Tejashwi Yadav quiet on this issue? If students are protesting, why aren’t they engaging with them? Only when this issue gained attention did Rahul Gandhi voice his concerns. Such matters should always be addressed with urgency and continuous thought for improvement.”
Students have been protesting on the streets for 14 days, yet there has been no dialogue from the government. Kumar also targeted the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand, stating, “In a democracy, dialogue is the most valuable asset. Not only does the Constitution emphasize this, but figures like Mahatma Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi also regarded dialogue as central to life. Whether it’s student issues, government employee concerns, or farmers’ problems, neither side should be obstinate. Both parties must be flexible and formulate policies based on the country’s economic and social conditions. The paper leak jeopardizes the future of students. Therefore, the government should immediately engage with students to establish a robust examination system.”
Responding to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statements on reservations, Kumar acknowledged the necessity of reservations but emphasized the need for evaluation. “Reservations are crucial, yet they have not resolved all social issues even decades after independence. Due to associated social sensitivities, it has become a political issue. We must first assess how much benefit the reservation has actually reached the intended Dalits and OBCs.”
He further stated, “There will be discussions about reservations only if government positions exist. The process of opening positions has changed significantly with the new economic policy, leading to demands for reservations not just in the government sector but in other fields as well. However, the spirit in which Dr. Ambedkar introduced reservations has not been fulfilled. Who is responsible for this? A comprehensive policy needs to be established regarding this.”
On the Women’s Reservation Bill, Kumar remarked, “The demand for women’s reservations is longstanding. This issue has consistently been raised in Parliament and state assemblies. Nitish Kumar established a model by providing representation for women in Panchayati Raj, which has since been adopted by other states.”
He noted that delimitation is essential for implementing women’s reservations in Parliament and assemblies. “This is a constitutional necessity. Delimitation should occur only after the census. There is still a long way to go for the socio-economic census. Once that is completed, delimitation should follow. In a democracy, if voting rights are granted, their boundaries must also be defined. Any political differences or jealousy regarding this matter are unfortunate.”
Kumar described foreign funding as a significant challenge for the country’s politics. He stated, “Irregularities in foreign funding have been reported consistently. Political misuse of foreign funding under the guise of NGOs is prevalent. The situation has escalated to the point where political parties are operating as charity trusts.”
He emphasized that no foreign funding is provided for the country’s welfare. The Election Commission and the government should monitor such funding closely.
Regarding speculations about transaction fees for digital payments via UPI, Kumar commented that if fees are introduced, it is not inherently negative. “If you wish to transact through UPI, what is wrong with paying a fee? If you have obtained a GST number for business and want to make transactions, you must pay for that system.”
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