Sanjay Nishad demands SC status for Nishad community

Sanjay Nishad, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, has stated that his struggle is not for political power but for the constitutional identity and security of the Nishad community. Addressing speculation regarding political dissatisfaction, Nishad clarified that his demands focus on social justice rather than सत्ता (power).

The minister is advocating for the Nishad community to be moved from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. He emphasized the need for constitutional protections, such as the SC-ST Protection Act, to ensure the community's safety and rights. Nishad noted that while the community was historically identified as Majhwar or Turha in the constitution, they were placed in the OBC category, which he claims has stripped them of their rightful protections.

Nishad also addressed rumors of a rift within the ruling coalition, stating that there is no dissatisfaction and that different ideologies can coexist as long as the community's interests are protected. He mentioned that a governor had indicated in 2016 that the caste should no longer be classified as backward, yet subsequent governments failed to update the official lists.