Ramvilas Paswan for inclusion of Lohar in ST list

LJP president Ramvilas Paswan today asked the Centre and Nitish Kumar government to accord the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Lohar (blacksmith community) in Bihar.

"Gross injustice is being meted out to Lohar in Bihar...Nitish government should accord the ST status to them for their uplift," Paswan said while addressing the representatives of Lohar caste here.

He alleged that by including the Lohar caste in the list of extremely Backward Class (EBCs), the state government had "acted against the spirit of constitution."

"The constitution has included the blacksmith caste in SC list," Paswan claimed and said in the event of his party coming to power, it would grant the ST status to them.