Chirag Paswan says he could give up ministerial post if…

Chirag Paswan

Union minister Chirag Paswan has stirred discussions with his statement on prioritising principles over his ministerial position.

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief said he would choose to give up his ministerial berth instead of a compromise on his principles, following the example set by his late father Ram Vilas Paswan.

He made these comments at a party event in Patna, where he also spoke about his commitment to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as long as Narendra Modi remains Prime Minister.

Responding to journalists’ queries about his cryptic remark in his speech, "I will not hesitate to renounce my ministerial berth as my father did", the young leader claimed he was speaking about the Congress-led UPA.

"My father was a minister in the UPA government too. And too many things took place back then which were detrimental to the interests of Dalits. Even pictures of Baba Saheb Ambedkar were not put up at public events. So we parted ways," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Paswan reportedly played a key part in persuading his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, to rejoin the BJP-led NDA before the 2014 Indian general election.

Paswan also commended Modi, stating that the current government has been responsive to his concerns regarding Dalit issues. He pointed to the Centre's stand on the creamy layer and lateral entry into bureaucracy as evidence of his statement.