Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday asked the UPA Government to provide reservation to pasmanda (OBC/ dalit) Muslims and Christians following recommendations of the Sachchar Committee and Ranganath Mishra Commission.

Nitish seemed to have differences with the BJP that opposed reservations to the two communities. Speaking at a meeting of All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, Kumar said it was ludicrous for Union Ministers Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan to join the chorus on reservations to dalit Muslims and Christians. “The party (RJD) that came to power in Bihar on popular Muslim support ditched the community. I have worked towards a cohesive society but when I tried to give special attention to a section by making Mahadalit commission, a top Bihar leader (read Ramvilas Paswan) objects to the idea,” Nitish said.

AIPMM president and Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar told The Indian Express: “When reservation to pasmanda Muslims and Christians is part of the Congress manifesto, they should agree to it in principle first and later conduct a comprehensive survey to identify the beneficiaries.”