"The BJP is fully in favour of reservations in outsourced services. The decision has been taken unanimously by the BJP- JD(U) government. Payments are made to those working in outsourced services by the government. Hence, we will see to it that the quota system is strictly enforced," he said here in a statement.
The deputy chief minister's comments came a day after former Union minister and ex-state BJP chief C P Thakur opposed reservations in the outsourced services, saying the move could lead to a social unrest and a drop in investments in Bihar.
Recently, some disgruntled leaders belonging to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) had floated a front to champion the Dalit cause and expressed fear that a move was afoot to introduce a creamy layer in the quotas for the scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs).
Pointing out that the RJD-Congress combine ruled Bihar for 15 years, he alleged that the two parties deprived the SCs and STs of the reservation benefits by holding the panchayat polls without any quota.
"On the other hand, the BJP-JD(U) government introduced new quotas like a 20-per cent reservation for the extremely backward classes and a 50-per cent reservation for women. Reservations were also introduced in the recruitment of the State Auxiliary Police jawans," the BJP leader said.