Six-time independent MLA from Kunda constituency Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias ‘Raja Bhaiyya’. Six-time independent MLA from Kunda constituency Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias ‘Raja Bhaiyya’. Six-time independent MLA from Kunda constituency Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias ‘Raja Bhaiyya’ on Friday announced the launch of his political party, which stands opposed to the SC/ST Act and reservation in promotion. The name of the party will either be Jansatta Dal, Jansatta Party or Jansatta Loktantrik Party and it will contest the elections next year. “There are some important problems that affect all of us but for some reason, politicians are silent on them both inside and outside Parliament. All the parties are like that. We all know that the SC/ST Act was introduced during Rajiv Gandhi’s time and with time, it turned complicated. Today, it is said that people talk about the SC/ST Act and that citizens are facing problems but there is neither a discussion in the Vidhan Sabha nor in Parliament in this regard,” Singh said. “The Dalit community is an inseparable part of us and they cannot progress by being away from the rest of the society. The Constitution made us all equal. The law is the same for all. After Bharat Bandh, the government had brought an amendment against the Supreme Court order that in SC/ST cases, arrests would be made after the investigation. All political parties had agreed to this following which Parliament said arrests would first be made followed by an investigation. This is not lawful,” he added. Singh also said that there is no need to give the benefit of reservation to the sons and daughters of someone who has already taken the same and is financially powerful. Instead, the benefit should be given to someone standing on the farthest point from development, he added. “I will give you another example. Rape is a heinous crime. If a Dalit girl is raped, a compensation amount is given to her but if the same thing happens to a non-Dalit girl, then she gets nothing. This is wrong and we have raised our voice against this. The same applies to murder. If a Dalit is murdered, then Rs 8,40,000 is given but when a non-Dalit is killed, his family gets nothing. I am not saying that you should give Dalits less but the amount should be for all and not given on the basis of caste and community,” Singh said. Raising the issue of reservations in promotions, Singh said this is making the youth discouraged and that the basis of promotion should be talent and seniority instead of caste and community. The decision to form a new political party was taken based on the suggestions of people and supporters, he said, and most of the formalities have been completed for registration. “The Election Commission would take around two to two-and-a-half-months to finish everything. The three optional names given for the party are Jansatta Dal, Jansatta Party and Jansatta Loktantrik Party,” he said. Once the Election Commission completes all the formalities, he said, the working committee would be formed and the party’s manifesto would be released. For all the latest Lucknow News, download Indian Express App © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

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