Signalling that he is not opposed to the demand made by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for reserving 80 per cent of jobs for local youths of Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that the issue of domiciliary was not out of context.
Kumar called for discussion among political parties for arriving at a consensus on the issue.
"The issue of domiciliary is not out of context," Kumar told reporters emerging from state Legislative Assembly.
The issue of local reservation is picking momentum in different parts of the country and hence the Centre should intervene to make some "solid arrangement" for protecting the interest of locals, he said.
Kumar, who is the national president of JD(U), said during his recent visit to neighbouring Jharkhand, he had extended support to citizens of that state on the issue of reservation for locals.
"I and my party are very much in favour that residents of Bihar should get preference in employment in state jobs," he said.
"There is a need for intense discussions on the topic and if consensus emerges among all parties, steps could be taken in this direction," Kumar said.
RJD president Lalu Prasad, whose party is a major partner in the Grand Secular Alliance government in Bihar, yesterday expressed concern over Biharis being deprived in jobs in other states due to local reservation and also being in a disadvantaged position in the state itself in certain jobs requiring higher qualification.
The Opposition BJP also lent support to the issue of reservation for locals.
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had yesterday doubted the "seriousness" of the demand and dared Lalu Prasad to ask the Grand Secular Alliance government in the state to bring a legislation to this effect, which he said, the BJP would support.
