Chirag Paswan

He also hit out at the opposition over the allegations on Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Bihar on Friday to attend a function organised on the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a legendary freedom fighter who is fondly called "bhagwan" by tribal communities of the Chhota Nagpur plateau. Modi will travel to a remote village in Jamui district, about 200 km from the state capital, to celebrate "Janjatiya Gaurav Divas", as the day has come to be observed since 2021. Incidentally, this is the PM's second tour of Bihar, where he, on Wednesday, laid the foundation stone for AIIMS at Darbhanga, one of the major cities in the state's northern region. Jamui shares its borders with Jharkhand, where assembly elections are underway. Union minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan, who represented Jamui in Lok Sabha twice before passing the baton to brother-in-law Arun Bharti and shifting base to Hajipur, shared his enthusiasm over the Prime Minister's tour. Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), shared a post on

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Thursday claimed that the NDA is known for development, and the JMM-led alliance for corruption. He said that people would have to choose between development and corruption in the upcoming assembly polls in the state. Paswan was addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Chatra district seeking votes for Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate Janardan Paswan, who filed his nomination papers on Thursday for Chatra assembly seat. The LJP (RV) is contesting the Jharkhand assembly polls only on one seat under National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "India progressed rapidly on the path of development in the past five years, while Jharkhand moved backwards during the same period. We feel ashamed that the chief minister of Jharkhand had to go to jail on corruption charges," Paswan said. He said that on one hand, there is discussion about development initiated by Modi government and on the other, corruption of the Hemant Soren-led government is also being discussed.

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Tuesday exuded confidence that NDA will form a "strong" government in Jharkhand where the INDIA bloc seemed to be heading for its "next big defeat after Haryana". The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief also said he was "satisfied" with BJP's offer of one seat in the state and dismissed speculations that the deal had made him feel slighted. "There are many who want to drive a wedge between my PM and me. They will never succeed. Let me state that our party is not just happy but fully satisfied that the BJP, with which we have an alliance in Bihar, has given us due respect in Jharkhand, too," Paswan told reporters. He said he will visit Jharkhand on October 24 when his party candidate Janardan Paswan, a two-term former MLA, is scheduled to file nomination papers. "Besides ensuring the victory of our own candidate, the party will chalk out a strategy to help our allies do well," he said. The BJP is contesting a lion's share of 68 seats in Jharkhand,

Meanwhile, the Congress office erupted in jubilation as supporters celebrated with dhol-nagada beats and energetic dance moves

Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday said the government will build 100 food testing labs and 50 food irradiation centres as part of its efforts to boost processing levels and ensure quality. The minister asked the industry not to compromise on the quality of products as this will affect not only brands but the country's image as well. He said the ministry will set up 100 food testing labs to ensure that products meet standard norms set by regulators. The minister assured the industry that he would try to address any issues and challenges affecting the growth of the food processing sector. Addressing a Ficci seminar, Paswan emphasised the need to minimise wastage and promote value addition. The minister also exhorted industry players to make India a global food basket. "Indian food products should become popular globally. Indian food standards should be recognised as global standards," Paswan said. To boost processing levels, Paswan said as many as 50 food ...

During a recent event for his party's SC/ST cell in Patna, Paswan said that he would not hesitate to give up his ministerial position, just as his father did

Union minister Chirag Paswan has caused a flutter by stating he would choose to give up his ministerial berth instead of a compromise on his principles, in keeping with the precedent set by his late father Ram Vilas Paswan. Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), made the remark at a function of the party's SC/ST cell here on Monday evening, even as he maintained that he "will be in the NDA till Narendra Modi is my Prime Minister". Responding to questions from journalists about his cryptic remark in his speech, "I will not hesitate to renounce (laat maar denge) my ministerial berth like 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," said Paswan, who is understood to have played an instrumental role in .

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday said his party, LJP (Ram Vilas), would contest the assembly elections in Jharkhand, and all options were being explored, including forging an alliance or going solo, for it. Paswan's statement came a day after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the BJP's election co-in-charge for Jharkhand, said his party would contest the polls in alliance with the AJSU Party and JD(U). "The LJP state unit is discussing all options, including contesting the polls in alliance or alone," Paswan told reporters at the Ranchi airport on the way to Dhanbad where he addressed a rally. LJP (Ram Vilas), which is a part of the BJP-led NDA, has a strong base in Jharkhand, he said. "When I was born, Jharkhand was a part of Bihar. This had been my father's workplace. The party has developed a strong mass base in the state. In such a situation, it has been decided that the party will contest the upcoming assembly polls," he added. Speaking to the press in Dhanbad, Paswa

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Sunday said his party would contest Jharkhand assembly polls and discussion was underway for all options including contesting the election in alliance or alone. Paswan's statement came a day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also BJP's election co-incharge for Jharkhand polls, said the saffron party would contest the assembly polls in alliance with AJSU Party and Janata Dal (United). LJP (Ram Vilas) is a part of the BJP-led NDA government in the Centre. "The LJP state unit is discussing all options including contesting the polls in alliance or alone...," Paswan, the Union Food Processing Industries minister told reporters at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport. Paswan will address a public meeting in Dhanbad on Sunday. LJP (Ram Vilas) had a strong mass base in Jharkhand, he said. "When I was born, Jharkhand was in a unified Bihar. This had been a workplace for my father. The party has ...

Union minister Chirag Paswan has strongly batted for a nationwide caste-based census, saying data from the exercise will help in knowing the exact population of sections of society that require further upliftment. Speaking at the 'India Today Conclave' in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president also said there is no doubt the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will again form government in Bihar, where the assembly polls are due in late 2025. The Bihar assembly polls will be contested under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Paswan maintained, referring to the JD(U) leader and his one-time political rival. The Dalit leader from Bihar also asserted his party is committed to a certain section of society it represents. "We (LJP-Ram Vilas) have our own priorities, our concerns for the section of the society which we represent. If the section is wronged, then it is the responsibility of our party to become the voice of that section,"

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Monday slammed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over his "vulture" remark and said the people would give him a befitting reply in upcoming assembly polls in the state. In an apparent reference to the BJP's ongoing Parivartan Yatras' (Rallies for change) in the state, Soren in a recent public address in Garhwa district had said that leaders from other states would be seen hovering like vultures." Assembly elections in the state are due later this year. "The people will reply to such language of the chief minister. People's verdict in upcoming polls will say everything," Paswan, also the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president, said. Paswan arrived in Jharkhand to address two public rallies in Latehar and Palamu districts on Monday in a bid to strengthen the party's base in the state ahead of the elections. Paswan said that he has several programmes lined up in Jharkhand regarding the assembly polls. "Whether the party will contest the electi

Seeking to promote the food processing sector, the Centre on Thursday held consultation with more than 100 senior executives of food companies to understand the problems faced by them related to ease of doing business, imports, GST rates and misconceptions about processed food items. During the meeting, food companies demanded reduction in GST rates of many food items. A high-level CEO roundtable, under the co-chairpersonship of Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan, was organized as part of World Food India 2024 event being held during September 19-22 in the national capital. It laid "focus on promoting investment and enhancing Ease of Doing Business and was attended by over 100 CXOs," an official statement said. Speaking on the sidelines of this meeting, Paswan said, "the objective of this CEO roundtable was to provide a platform to industry representatives of food companies to put forward their concerns and suggestions ..

Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday rejected rumours of a rift between his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the BJP, asserting that he views himself as "inseparable" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an interview to PTI, Paswan said he was willing to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly polls as an NDA partner "if the BJP so desires", and made light of estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras' recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "My love for Narendra Modi is unshakeable. I am inseparable from him, for as long as he is Prime Minister", said Paswan, when asked about speculations triggered by his stance on issues like Wakf Board reforms, lateral entry into bureaucracy and creamy layer and sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. He pointed out "as a matter of fact, my views always reflected the government's stand. A case in point is sending the Wakf Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee". Speculations have been rife that Paswan, formerly a docile junior ally, h

Union minister Chirag Paswan was on Sunday re-elected as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president for five years at its national executive meeting here. The decision was taken unanimously at the meeting, Paswan said. "The national executive, in its meeting here, has re-elected me for the next five years," he said. Paswan, the Minister of Food Processing Industries, said the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, Jammu Kashmir and Jharkhand were also discussed in the meeting. In Jharkhand, the party may contest the polls either with national alliance partner BJP or on its own, he said. "We have taken suggestions from the state units whether they want to contest the elections in alliance or alone in states where our organisation is strong... At the national level, we have an alliance with the BJP and we are a strong coalition partner of the NDA. In the 2014 elections, we had a tie-up with the BJP for vidhansabha polls in Jharkhand and contested the Shikaripara seat. If there is a

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Tuesday asserted that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has reaffirmed its "commitment towards SCs, STs and OBCs" by asking the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement for "lateral entry" into the bureaucracy. Addressing a press conference here, Paswan also slammed the Congress-led opposition for "selective criticism" of the ruling NDA and accused the previous governments of failure to fill up posts reserved for the deprived castes. "I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry, on behalf of my Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This government has set a precedent. Hopefully, regimes of future will show a similar sensitivity to public sentiments", Paswan said. Asked about the criticism being faced by the government over the issue, he said "When the opposition points a finger at us, it needs to remember three fingers get pointed at itself. Why did these parties, while in power, ensure recruitments against posts reserved for SCs

BJP ally and Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Monday slammed any move for appointments in government positions without following reservations and asserted that he would raise the issue with the Centre. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president's reaction came over the recent advertisement to fill posts through lateral entry on a contract basis that the opposition has alleged snatches away reservations for the disadvantaged communities. "Reservation provisions must be there in any government appointment. There is no ifs and buts in this. No reservation exists in the private sector and if it is not implemented in government positions as well... The information came up before me on Sunday and it is a matter of concern for me," he told PTI. Paswan said as a member of the government, he has the platform to raise the issue and he would. The Union minister also said that as far as his party is concerned, it is absolutely not in support of such a measure. The Union Public Service ...

Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has pitched for a nationwide caste census but warned against making the figures public as it will lead to "division" in society, and said no discussion within the ruling NDA has taken place so far over simultaneous polls and the Uniform Civil Code, both part of the BJP's manifesto. In an interaction with PTI editors, he flagged concerns about the UCC and said he cannot take a position unless a draft on it is placed before him. He, however, asserted that his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) strongly supports the concept of simultaneous polls. Asked about his views on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and if he supports it, Paswan said, "We don't have a draft for it yet. Until unless we go through that draft, because there are a lot of concerns... India is a country of diversities." Be it language, culture or lifestyle, everything is different in different regions of the country, he said, wondering "how can you bring everyone under one

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Union Minister Chirag Paswan said Wednesday the decisions taken by Kota MP Om Birla as the speaker of the last Lok Sabha have strengthened democracy. NDA nominee Birla was elected as the speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on Wednesday after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was adopted through voice votes. This will be Birla's second consecutive term in the post. Taking a jibe at the opposition for forcing an election for the crucial parliamentary position, Paswan said that in many opposition party-ruled states, the posts of both the speaker and the deputy speaker of the assembly are held by the ruling parties. Paswan, the chief of BJP ally Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), also came out in the defence of Birla as several opposition leaders accused him of being partial towards treasury benches during his last tenure. "Decisions taken by the speaker in the last five years have upheld the dignity of the Constitution and strengthened democracy," Paswan said. "Elections are ove