Manjhi Flags Limited Speaking Time for SC, ST MPs in Lok Sabha

Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to ensure that MPs from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) receive adequate opportunities to participate in parliamentary debates.
Manjhi raised the issue in a letter to Birla dated September 16, following concerns expressed during an NDA MPs’ interaction held at his residence on August 5.
BJP MP Gajendra Singh Patel, who represents the reserved Khargone constituency in Madhya Pradesh, had highlighted the issue at the meeting. Patel later said the concern was shared by several lawmakers, particularly first-time MPs from SC and ST communities, and was not directed at any particular individual.

According to Manjhi, regular NDA MPs’ meetings provide a forum for lawmakers to raise issues, which he subsequently takes up with the concerned authorities. He said the August meeting was not specifically organised for SC/ST MPs, but the issue of speaking opportunities was raised by members of these communities.
“Everyone should have the right to speak in Parliament,” Manjhi said while explaining the point raised in his letter.
The issue comes amid wider discussions within the ruling alliance over representation and the participation of marginalised communities in public institutions. Manjhi has also recently advocated changes to the SC/ST reservation system, including sub-categorisation and a creamy-layer provision. His views have faced opposition from some NDA leaders, including LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan.
The debate over parliamentary participation also follows the BJP’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, in which it won 55 of the 131 seats reserved for SC and ST candidates, compared with 77 such seats in 2019.
The Lok Sabha Speaker has not yet publicly responded to Manjhi’s letter.