After a political slugfest over Constitution, SC/ST & OBC reservations during the campaigning for three phases of the Lok Sabha elections, a row over Muslim reservation has gained momentum ahead of the fourth phase scheduled on May 13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at RJD president Lalu Prasad over his statement that he is in favour of extending reservation benefits to Muslims.
Modi said the INDIA Bloc wants to snatch all quotas for SC, ST, and OBCs and give them to their 'vote bank' as part of a deeper conspiracy. The PM also asserted that India has reached a turning point in history, and people have to decide in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections whether 'vote jihad' or 'Ram Rajya' is the way forward for the country.
BJP's partner in NDA, the JD(U) slammed Lalu for favouring reservation for Muslims, saying his stand violates the basic spirit of the Constitution as well as the Mandal Commission report. Such a statement is tantamount to a conspiracy against the backwards who get reservation due to their social and educational backwardness, Janata Dal (United) spokesperson K C Tyagi said.
Addressing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar, the PM said a big alliance partner of the INDIA Bloc has endorsed what he used to say about their plan to end the reservations for SC, ST and OBCs.
"Their leader, who has eaten the animal's fodder and convicted by the court, even by the Supreme Court in the corruption case, is out on bail due to health. The Congress is making him dance on their head. He is saying not only Muslims should get reservations but all the reservations should be given to Muslims. Means they want all the reservation to Muslims by snatching it from SC, ST and OBC," Modi said.
After all, why these people are doing this is because they are counting their remaining breath with the help of this "very vote bank" as everything else is over and nothing left with them, "one by one all have left and ran away", he said.
"I have been saying the same thing about them for the last several days. I was saying that they would cut some part of the reservation and give it on the basis of religion but the conspiracy is deeper…They are saying on the day of voting that they want to give all the reservation of SC, ST and OBC to Muslim community," Modi said.
He recalled how the maker of Constitution BR Ambedkar had opposed religion-based reservation.
Lalu alleged that the ruling BJP at the Centre wanted to do away with reservations by scrapping the Constitution.
"The BJP is against the provision of reservations made in the Constitution. Hence, it wants to do away with both", Lalu told reporters at the legislative council premises.
The ailing septuagenarian, who nowadays prefers to stay indoors, is attending a swearing-in ceremony where his wife Rabri Devi took oath as an MLC.
On BJP's charge that if voted to power, the Congress, RJD and other allies would "steal" reservations meant for OBCs and divert these to Muslims, Lalu said, "But should not Muslims get the benefit of reservations? (Aarakshan to milna hi chahiye Musalmanon ko)".
He also said the BJP is indulging in scaremongering (bhadka rahe hain) by raising the bogey of "jungle raj" at election rallies.
Addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district, Modi hit out at the Opposition Congress, saying its intent is very dangerous and alleged it calls for "vote jihad" were directed against him.
Speaking at a poll rally a week ago, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Maria Alam, the niece of Congress leader Salman Khurshid, called for "vote jihad" in favour of Naval Kishore Shakya, the INDIA Bloc candidate from the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha seat of Uttar Pradesh. The SP is an ally of the Congress and a key constituent of the Opposition INDIA Bloc.
