Invoking the legacy of B R Ambedkar on the eve of the first phase of Bihar polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today categorically ruled out scrapping the reservation system and assailed "a group of liars" for the false propaganda that it is under threat.
"Every time when a BJP government is in power, a group of liars spreads the malicious propaganda that we are out to scrap reservations...It happened during the Atal Bihari Vajapayee government's time as well," Modi said addressing at a well-attended public meeting here.
"Falsehood must stop. Terrorising society must end. This is not politics," Modi said. The Prime Minister's assertion came a day ahead of the first phase of Bihar polls where reservation is a hotly-debated topic following following RSS chief's Mohan Bhagwat's call for a reivew.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief lalu Prasad have been quick to latch on to Bhagwat's remark to claim there was a sinister attempt to scrap reservations for the backward classes and weaker sections.
In his 45-minute speech at the MMRDA grounds, Modi said, "This rumour-mongering starts every time when elections are round the corner." "Whenever polls approach, opposition begins a debate on reservation," Modi said, ruling out a rethink on the reservation policy.
"This is something which Babasaheb Ambedkar has given us and no power can take it away," he said. "I have seen poverty. I have lived with it and there is a lot to be done for the uplift of the downtrodden of the society to whose betterment Babasheb was committed," he said.
Modi, who earlier laid the foundation for Ambedkar Memorial in the heart of the city, said his government has embarked on a project to develop five landmarks associated with the life of the architect of the Indian Constitution as "Panch teerths"-- five holy places for millions to come and pay homage.
Apart from the Indu Mill, other places to be developed as part of the project are Ambdekar's birth place Mau in Madhya Pradesh, Alipur Road residence in Delhi, his parents' village in coastal Maharashtra and the house where he lived in london.
Terming Ambedkar as "Mahapursh" (a great man), Modisaid he faced many challenges in life but harboured no bitterness and never sought revenge when he had the opportunity to draw up the future of India as an "architect" of the Constitution.
Giving a personal touch to his praise of Ambedkar, he said "If Ambedkar had not been there, where this Modi would be" Recalling Ambedkar's services to the nation, the Prime Minister announced that November 26, the day the Constitution of India came into force, will be observed as the "Constitution Day".
"If we call Ambedkar as belonging to dalits in the absence of a long term vision, it will be a great injustice to him. He belonged to everyone," he said.
"I don't want to indulge in politics, but it is a fact that a portrait of Ambedkar, who gave us the Constitution, could adorn Parliament only after a BJP-supported government came to power," he said.
The PM also deplored the delay in awarding the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna to Ambedkar. Affirming his party's commitment to weaker sections, Modi said states with maximum population of Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs have elected BJP governments.
He also expressed satisfaction that leaders of various Dalit parties came together on a single platform today on the occasion of foundation-laying for the Ambedkar Memorial. Modi said trees from all states should be planted at the memorial where people from villages would come and find peace.
Modi, who earlier in the day paid glowing tributes to Jayaprakash Narayan in Delhi, said it was happy coincidence that he could lay the foundation stone for the Ambedkar Memorial 113th birth anniversary of the socialist leader.
Referring to the agrarian problems in Maharashtra, Modi lamented not much was done to improve irrigation facilities over the last many years. He lauded Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for "excellent" water conservation efforts undertaken by his government which has led to increase in the water table. Modi recalled how he had initiated water conservation work in Gujarat as chief minister.
"The way Devendra ji is doing his work Maharashtra will emerge as a state which will show a new direction to others," he said, describing Fadnavis as a "successful" CM.
Modi also lauded the work being done by his own Cabinet colleagues from Maharashtra Nitin Gadkari and Suresh Prabhu. The PM asked farmers to take up honey bee keeping as a means to earn extra income. There is a global market for honey, he added.
Apart from Fadnavis, RPI leader Ramadas Athawale were among the leaders present at the function.