Bihar battle is secular, no place for BJP: Paswan

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan today said the battle in Bihar was ‘‘secular vs secular’’ and that BJP ...

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan today said the battle in Bihar was ‘‘secular vs secular’’ and that BJP does not figure in it.

Even as other leaders, including ministers, have been camping in Bihar, Paswan has been waging his campaign battles from Delhi. His residence on Janpath has been transformed into an election ground with posters and even a large TV in place. The LJP also had its national executive meeting in Delhi on Friday.

Today, Paswan focussed on the private sector reservation bill and the women’s reservation bill. He has been taking the initiative in getting the bill tabled in Parliament.

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‘‘Private sector reservation should be in place. Even America has developed a system where there is reservation for the coloured people. The party welcomes the reservation in private companies,’’ he said.

Paswan’s stategy so far has been to woo the SC/STs and Muslims. ‘‘The minority vote will come together,’’ he said, and added the Muslim community has been voting out of fear, but not this time around.

Other leaders, including JD(U)’s George Fernandes and RJD’s Laloo Prasad Yadav, have remained in Bihar to campaign for the February elections.

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