Paswan

Patna, July 20: Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan said here today that a headcount based on caste and religion was justified and necessary within the defence forces and the judiciary to find out the actual social composition of these institutions.

The Union minister, flanked by CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan at a news conference, said such an effort would help the cause of national integration, contrary to the belief that it would be harmful to the nature of these institutions. Bardhan also said there was nothing wrong with any such survey.

?The basic idea is to ensure that members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities get proper representation in the judiciary and the defence forces. This will help in better social cohesion and a survey is therefore necessary,? Paswan said.

The LJP leader also said there was no need to set up a third front in the country because the political spectrum was already divided between two broad groups led by the Congress and the BJP.

?The idea of a third front is not practical and it is totally unnecessary,? Paswan said. ?Many parties like the Janata Dal (United) are with the BJP while several others are supporting the Congress. This is sufficient and the support is issue-based,? he added.

Representatives of all Left parties, except the CPI(ML), were with Paswan at the news conference, indicating that they preferred the LJP over the Rashtriya Janata Dal led by Lalu Prasad.

?We will launch a joint agitation with the Left parties to highlight the total failure of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on all fronts. It will start with a rally here on August 9. People of Bihar elected a new government for changing the situation in the state but the progress has been dismal,? Paswan said.

?I used to see a new announcement from chief minister Nitish Kumar almost everyday in newspapers in Delhi, but what about the promises he had made before coming to power?? Bardhan asked.

Praise for industry

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today felicitated over 100 industrialists and traders for staying back in the state and ?braving odds? like abduction and extortion in the 15 years of Rashtriya Janata Dal rule, reports our correspondent from Patna.

Nitish, who feted the industrialists with commendation certificates, said: ?I appreciate your resilience. If you can excel in adverse conditions, a new environment will only enhance your efficiency.?

He said the government has made efforts to woo investors ?but private players will come only when they are convinced about putting money in Bihar for profit?.