Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress during a recent event in Haryana, accusing the party of “snatching reservation from backward classes in Karnataka and giving it to Muslims.” The remarks were made at a Backward Classes Samman Sammelan, a gathering ahead of Haryana’s Assembly election later this year.
“If the Congress forms the government, they will do the same in Haryana too,” Shah warned, reiterating the BJP’s stance against Muslim reservations. Shah criticized the Congress for allegedly neglecting the backward classes and referenced historical instances to support his claims.
He pointed to the 1957 Kaka Kalelkar Commission report and alleged that the Congress delayed its implementation. “In 1980, Indira Gandhi shelved the Mandal Commission. When it was introduced in 1990, Rajiv Gandhi opposed OBC reservation,” he asserted.
Shah emphasized that it was only after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014 that there was a “government of Dalits, poor, and backward people.” He highlighted that 27 of the 71 cabinet ministers are from backward classes, underscoring the BJP’s commitment to these communities.
“I want to assure you we will not allow Muslim reservation in Haryana,” Shah declared, a statement seen as significant in the context of recent political shifts in the state. Nayab Singh Saini, an OBC member, replaced ML Khattar as Chief Minister ahead of the general election, reflecting the BJP’s strategic focus on backward classes.
Saini recently announced an increase in reservation for backward classes in Group-A and Group-B government jobs from 15% to 27%, aligning with the central government’s policy.
In response, the Congress directed attention to Andhra Pradesh, where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the BJP, maintains reservations for Muslims. The TDP’s 16 Lok Sabha MPs are crucial for Modi’s government, following the BJP’s underwhelming election performance.
TDP leader Nara Lokesh stated, “It has been going around for the last two decades. We stand by it. We intend to continue it.” He emphasized that reservations are not for appeasement but to lift minorities out of poverty.
During the election campaign, the issue of Muslim reservation has been contentious. Prime Minister Modi previously sparked controversy in Rajasthan’s Banswara by suggesting that Congress intended to give Muslims priority over resources, a claim the Congress vehemently denied.
The Congress accused Modi of spreading misinformation to divert voters’ attention from pressing issues. The party explained that their manifesto proposed a national caste survey to understand societal development and promote equality.
As Haryana prepares for its Assembly election, Amit Shah’s statements underscore the BJP’s focus on reservation policies and their impact on backward classes. The state’s political landscape remains tense, with the BJP aiming to maintain its influence amidst growing challenges from the Congress.
Amit Shah’s visit to Haryana is his second in the lead-up to the elections, reflecting the significance of the state in the BJP’s broader political strategy. The party, which previously allied with former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala’s JJP, seeks to replicate its past success in the upcoming polls.
