Congress tried to give reservations to Muslims out of SC/ST quota: PM Modi

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of plotting to snatch property, assured reservation for Dalits and backward classes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched another attack on the Congress party while addressing a public gathering in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, on Tuesday. He accused the Congress party of giving reservations to Muslims out of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) quota in Andhra Pradesh, going against the Indian Constitution. He also assured the crowd gathered at the election rally that reservation for Dalits, backward classes, and tribals would continue under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.

"As soon as the Congress came into power in 2004, they decided to give reservation to Muslims out of SC/ST quota in Andhra Pradesh. They tried to implement Muslim reservations, however, failed to do so. Congress tried to implement it in the entire country in 2011. They tried to do it even without knowing that this was against the Constitution. They didn't care about it or BR Ambedkar," the Prime Minister said.

 

VIDEO | “As soon as the Congress came into power in 2004, they decided to give reservation to Muslims out of SC/ST reservation in Andhra Pradesh. They tried to implement Muslim reservations, however, failed to do so. Congress tried to implement it in the entire country in 2011.… pic.twitter.com/tMJVMUgpLs

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2024

Referencing to an earlier speech, where PM Modi said, "I put forth the truth that Congress is plotting to snatch your property and distribute it to their special people...When I exposed their politics, they got so angry that they started abusing Modi...I want to know from Congress why are they so afraid of the truth? Why do they hide their policy so much, when you yourself made the policy then why are you afraid to accept it now."

#WATCH | Addressing a public gathering in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The day before yesterday in Rajasthan I put forth some truth in front of the country and the entire Congress and INDI alliance went into a panic. I put forth the truth… pic.twitter.com/5eDjBfVjNR

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2024

Earlier, PM Modi had said that Congress wanted to snatch wealth from people and redistribute it to Muslims, misinterpreting a speech made by former PM Manmohan Singh in 2006. The remark caused widespread outrage, leading the Congress party to seek action from the Election Commission (EC) on the matter. The EC has declined to comment.

Addressing cultural concerns, Modi further criticised Congress for allegedly suppressing religious practices, citing the ban on public Hanuman Chalisa recitations and the restriction on Ram Navami processions in Rajasthan.

"In the rule of Congress, even listening to Hanuman Chalisa becomes a crime. Rajasthan has been its sufferer...For the first time on Ram Navami this time, Shobha Yatra procession was taken out in Rajasthan...In a state like Rajasthan where people chant Ram-Ram, Congress banned Ram Navami," he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of a safe nation and strong government, referencing the overwhelming support the BJP received in Rajasthan in the 2014 and 2019 elections. He assured the crowd that reservations for marginalised communities would remain intact under BJP rule.

The BJP also later wrote a post on X (formerly Twitter) stating, "Amidst these conspiracies of the Congress, Modi is today giving you a guarantee from an open platform that the reservation for Dalits, backward classes and tribals will neither be abolished nor will it be allowed to be divided in the name of religion... This is Modi's guarantee."

कांग्रेस की इन साजिशों के बीच मोदी आज आपको खुले मंच से गारंटी दे रहा है कि दलितों, पिछड़ों और आदिवासियों का आरक्षण न खत्म होगा और न ही उसे धर्म के नाम पर बांटने दिया जाएगा।

ये मोदी की गारंटी है।

- पीएम @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/f4OU0Mzr9X

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 23, 2024