UP: Rajbhar gives up charge of backward class welfare dept

Lucknow: UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday said he is giving up the charge of the backward class welfare department, expressing disappointment that his recommendations on appointment of state backward castes panel members have been "ignored".

The minister, whose Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, said he would, however, continue to be in charge of the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department.

SBSP general secretary and Om Prakash Rajbhar's son Arvind Rajbhar told PTI that a letter in this regard has been handed over to the office of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"In the evening, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma met Om Prakash Rajbharji in an attempt to placate his anger, but he did not relent. He handed over the same letter to Dinesh Sharma as well," Arvind Rajbhar said.

The SBSP had earlier in the day reiterated that it would part ways with the saffron party if the state government does not implement the social justice panel's recommendation to classify various OBC and Dalit sub-castes into three broad categories and provide quota within quota to them.

The minister said, "A number of people from backwards castes had applied for various posts in the UP State Commission for Backward Classes. A list was prepared and names of 28 people were proposed by us (ministry)."

"After the file reached the chief minister's office, we came to know that names of 27 people are missing. Chairman, vice-chairman were arbitrarily made. Now what is the relevance of this minister?" he said here.

"When a minister cannot have a say in selection of a member and all the work is to be done by the chief minister, then what is the point of keeping the department with me," Om Prakash Rajbhar said.