No vacancy for PM's post in 2019, Cong, Oppn can work hard for 2014: Paswan

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today asserted that there was no vacancy for the Prime Minister's post in 2019 and the Opposition should work hard and aim for it in 2024.

The ruling NDA partner Lok Janshakti Party chief Pawan made the assertion claiming that the achievements of the Narendra Modi government in last four years were more than those of any other regime since Independence.

Paswan also spoke at length on Dalit issues, acknowledging that the government earlier had a problem of perception on the Dalit issue, but the same had been set right.

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution was addressing a news conference here, during which he also described the NDA government as "pro-poor, pro-Dalits and pro-farmers".

Paswan made the remarks in reply to queries on his experience as the NDA partner and if he would be the part of the BJP-led alliance in the 2019 polls.

"The Modi government has been in power for over four years now and if you count the achievements of this government during this tenure, it has been better than any other government since Indpendence.

"There is no charge which the Prime Minister faces, he comes from a humble background. Out of 24 hours, he works for 20 hours... This government brought so many schemes for common man and the poor like Jandhan Yojana, insurance cover for common people. Besides, India is emerging as an economic superpower," he said.

He said the LJP supported the NDA when it had only two other allies -- the Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena.

"For the last two years, we (LJP) have been saying that in 2019, there is no vacancy, the Congress and the opposition can work hard, but they should realise there is no vacancy in 2019. They can work hard for 2024 and not 2019," he said.

Asked if the LJP would be part of the NDA in 2019, Paswan categorically said, "Not being so is unthinkable."
Paswan said four-five months back he had stated that despite so many works and achievements of the Narendra Modi government, there was "a perception that this regime is anti-Dalit."
Paswan said while speaking in the ongoing session of the Parliament recently, he had pointed out that that the Opposition brought the no confidence motion against the government, "but not even one from the Opposition, be it the Congress or the SP, uttered a word pertaining to Dalits or the atrocities."
Asked if the government's stand would change in case the Supreme Court stands by its verdict in response to the petition for review of the March verdict on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Paswan asserted that "it is the government's job to make law."
He said "many Dalits feared lodging an FIR after dilution of the Act."