Patna: The main Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) headed by former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad has banned jeans for party workers and leaders, saying it is a party of the poor and have-nots, and wearing western clothes would convey a wrong message among the people.
During a protest programme organised by the party over the Indian government’s failure to hold a caste census, state RJD president Jagadanand Singh became angry after seeing a group of party workers moving around in jeans, instead of sitting at the agitation site.
“Ours is the party of the poor, oppressed and the downtrodden, and we have to fight a long battle as our rights are being compromised. Those wearing jeans will never become leaders,” the state RJD chief shouted at them.
“Have you come to shoot the film? If you want to do politics, then sit on dharna (strike) and learn to agitate. It’s time for training for young leaders. Our rights have been taken away so we have to fight for a long battle,” Singh declared.
The move has triggered a fresh controversy in society with the younger generation suggesting the party leadership to change its mindset. “I don’t think it is proper (to implement the dress code). Today’s politics has nothing to do with dress or uniform,” remarked Akash Kumar, youth wing head of the party.
Another youth RJD leader too disapproved of this diktat. “Instead of making controversial remarks, the party should focus on issues,” commented Neeraj Kumar. Prior to that, several villages in Bihar had banned wearing of jeans and T-shirts by the girls, blaming them for the main cause of growing sexual violence in the society.
The development took place during a sit-in programme staged by the RJD on Saturday to seek a caste census in the country. A flurry of protests has gripped the state since the Centre decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise populations other than Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the census.
“The state governments of Maharashtra and Odisha have requested to collect caste details in the forthcoming census. The government of India has decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise populations other than SCs and STs in the census,” Federal Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told parliament last month.
The declaration has irked opposition parties, but the ruling Janata Dal United (JD-U) headed by chief minister Nitish Kumar too has joined the opposition camp, seeking caste-based census.
“It is wrong to say it will create caste animosity in the society; rather it will improve governance in the country,” the chief minister has said.
