Chirag Paswan hits back at Rahul Gandhi’s discriminatory remarks

Chirag Paswan. File | Photo credit: ANI

Reacting to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks on caste discrimination, Union Minister for Food Industries and Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas) Party leader Chirag Paswan on Saturday (August 29, 2026) demanded that those in power before the BJP regime explain why discrimination against Dalits still persists in society.

Mr. Paswan was talking about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks about a purification ritual at a site in Uttarakhand where party president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground on August 8, 2026. Mr Gandhi on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi against those who carried out the purge. He said what was done there amounted to “untouchability” and that Dalits across the country were facing such incidents.

Meanwhile, he also demanded the resignation of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Santosh Kumar Suman from the Bihar cabinet after the party, an NDA ally, sought a review of the reservation policy and sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

However, Mr Suman and his father, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Jitan Ram Manjhi, both on Saturday first sought Mr Paswan’s resignation, asking him to “get it right” on what they had said earlier on the reservation issue, which has caused a rift among the ruling NDA allies.

Speaking to the media, Mr Paswan strongly defended caste reservations, calling it an “inalienable constitutional right rather than a charity”.

While further saying that reservation remains fully necessary as caste discrimination and social inequalities have not disappeared from modern society, Mr Paswan argued that “the reservation granted by Dr BR Ambedkar in the Constitution cannot be abolished or undermined by any power on earth because groups or protestors demand it”. “If, despite this, discrimination in society continues, it means that even they (who have ruled the country for a long time) have failed to strengthen the foundations effectively,” he said.

Defending the constitutional basis of the reservation, Mr Paswan added that “it is based on social discrimination and untouchability, not on economic criteria”. “Those who seek to change its foundation must change the constitution.”

Mr. Paswan further said, “before he demands it, he (Mr. Suman) should first resign (from the Cabinet). “The basis of the reservation was social discrimination and it should not be looked at from an economic point of view… discussing it from an economic point of view is against the Constitution,” the Union minister reiterated.

Mr Suman responded to Mr Paswan in a post on social media handle X on Saturday: “As for the question of my resignation, I am ready for it but my younger brother (Chirag Paswan) should start it by resigning first. My younger brother should understand better that I have never talked about the creamy layer of reservations, neither have talked about ending reservation, but people with sub-categorization should not mix.” His father Jitan Ram Manjhi also defended what he had said earlier in Gaya on Saturday.

“He (Chirag Paswan) should step down first and then we all will follow him… he must understand correctly what Santosh Suman said…” “Those who are left behind in society should take advantage of reservation because times have changed… it’s time for Gen-Z and human aspiration,” added Mr. Suman while talking to presspersons.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 22:16 IST