Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of planning religion-based reservation in the country for the sake of vote bank politics, but asserted that he will not let it happen. He said this Congress proposal is to appease minorities as the SC/ST and OBC community is now with the BJP.
“In Karnataka, Congress has started a campaign to change the Constitution and to snatch away the rights of SC/ST and OBCs. Our Constitution does not accept religion-based reservation. But the Karnataka Government has given part of OBC reservation to Muslims,” Modi said.
Addressing a mega election rally the PM said, “They (Congress) will not settle with this. They had earlier too in their manifesto said about coming out with a law to provide religion-based reservation. There is a similar signal in their manifesto this time.”
“I want to make my Dalit, SC/ST and OBC brothers and sisters aware about Congress’ intentions. These people on the basis of religion, to keep their vote bank safe, are planning to loot your right which was given by Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution,” he added.
Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, BJP candidates and MPs from Bagalkote (Bagalkot) and Vijayapura (Bijapur) — P C Gaddigoudar and Ramesh Jigajinagi, respectively — were among those present at the rally.
Noting that most of SC, ST and OBC MPs in the Parliament are from BJP, Modi said, “So they feel that as SC, ST and OBC are with BJP. To gain the trust of minorities, they want to loot from SC, ST and OBC and give it to minorities. Will you let this happen
“I want to guarantee today to my Dalit, Adivasi and OBC brothers and sisters. I will not let such intentions of Congress be successful. To protect your rights, your reservation, Modi will go to any extent. I’m assuring you this,” he added.
On the occasion Modi also said that he “doesn’t believe in attacking from the back” and he had first informed the Pakistani authorities about the airstrike on a terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan.
“I had asked the forces to call the media and inform them about the airstrikes, but I said, before that I will inform Pakistani authorities through phone, but they didn’t pick up the phone. So I asked the forces to wait, and after informing the Pakistani authorities, we disclosed to the world about airstrikes that happened during the night. Modi doesn’t believe in hiding things nor attacking from the back, he fights openly,” the PM added.
