Congress wanted to extend reservation on basis of religion: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday mounted another attack on the Congress in his speech during a poll rally in Rajasthan's Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency—which will vote on April 26. The PM alleged that the Congress tried to provide reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh by reducing the reservations for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in 2004. He added that the Congress "did not care" about the Constitution.
Why does this story matter?
This comes two days after PM Modi's comments at a rally in Banswara, Rajasthan sparked a row. On Sunday Modi said that the Congress—if voted to power—could distribute the nation's wealth among "infiltrators" and "those who have more children." "[Former PM] Manmohan Singh's government had said Muslims have the first right on...country's assets," he had said. In response, on Monday, the Congress urged the Election Commission of India to take action against PM Modi's speech, calling it "divisive" and "malicious."
Congress belives in vote bank politics: PM
Modi further alleged that the Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance intended to transfer reservation rights—originally meant for Dalits, backwards and adivasis—to Muslims on religious grounds. The PM also mentioned former PM Singh in his speech again. He said, "When the Constitution was drafted...reservation based on religion was opposed...But Manmohan Singh...said...Muslims have the first right on the country's resources...Congress's thinking has always been of appeasement and vote bank politics." The Congress is yet to react to these statements.
Modi attacks Congress on 'Muslim reservations'
The PM further alleged that the Congress made four unsuccessful attempts to implement Muslim reservation in Andhra. "Due to legal hurdles and awareness of the Supreme Court, they did not succeed in their plans...In 2011, they tried to implement it across the country," he added. "Congress...[did this] knowing...this was against the...spirit of the Constitution...Congress did not care about...Constitution or...Babasaheb Ambedkar. When we got the chance, we finished the Muslim quota they had carved out of the SC/ST quota," he said.
Explained: Controversy over PM's 'wealth distribution' speech
On Sunday, Modi referred to Singh's 2006 speech at a meeting of the National Development Council on fiscal priorities of the government. Then too, a controversy had broken out, after which the then Prime Minister's Office had issued a clarification on the "deliberate...mischievous misinterpretation" of Singh's speech. According to the office's statement, Singh had said, "Our collective priorities are clear: agriculture, irrigation...health, education...rural infrastructure, and...essential public investment...of general infrastructure...programmes for the upliftment of SC/STs, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and women...children."
PMO's clarification on Singh's speech in 2006
Singh had added, "The component plans for SC and ST will need to be revitalized...will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities...particularly the Muslim minority...are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources." The PMO had said that Singh's reference to "first claim on resources" refers to all the "priority" areas listed above, including programmes for the upliftment of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and children and minorities.
Congress moves ECI over PM's speech
On Monday, the Congress approached the ECI to take action against the PM Modi's "distribution of wealth" speech. The party said that the prime minister had made "blatantly defamatory," "false" and "unverified allegations" against the Congress. Stating that it was a "trial of the EC" too, the Congress said the poll panel "risks tarnishing its legacy and abandoning its Constitutional duty by setting a precedent of helpless inaction that will go down in infamy."
Akhilesh slams PM for 'lies' against Singh
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI (M), and a group of civil society activists on Monday also asked the ECI to take action against Modi. The PM's speech had drawn sharp reactions from several opposition leaders as well. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav—who is part of the opposition bloc, the INDIA—said, "The way how he spread lies about the Congress's 'Nyay Patra' and... Singh is an example of dirty politics."
