PTI

RANCHI: Jharkhand energy minister Lalchand Mahato on Wednesday demanded that a meeting of the ruling NDA in the state be convened immediately to finalise the government's reservation policy.

Talking to PTI, he said the reservation policy of the fledgling state should be population-based and the Babulal Marandi government should not give into the demands of tribal outfits as it was a "conspiracy" to create social tension among the tribals and non-tribals.

He described the demand by the tribal outfits, including adivasi Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch, for 60 per cent reservation for them in government jobs in Jharkhand was unjustified as they constituted only 27 per cent of the state's population. Therefore giving more than 27 per cent reservation to tribals would be "unfair".

If the government concedes to the demands it would be an injustice to the Muslims and OBCs who constitute more than 50 per cent of the state's population, he said.

The state government should try to reach a consensus among the NDA members over the issue before taking a final decision in this regard, he said.

The manch, a conglomerate of several political and social outfits fighting for the tribals' cause, organised a state-wide bandh on Tuesday demanding 60 per cent reservation for tribals in government jobs.