Attacking the Congress for toying with the basic spirit of the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that when the Congress-led UPA government came to power at the Centre in 2004, its first task was to provide reservations to Muslims by reducing SC/ST quotas in Andhra Pradesh and then implement this pilot project across the country.
Addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, PM Modi said, “Between 2004 and 2010, Congress tried four times to implement Muslim reservations in Andhra Pradesh. However, due to legal hurdles and awareness of the Supreme Court, they could not fulfill its plans. In 2011, Congress tried to implement it across the country. They snatched the rights given to SC/ST and OBC and gave them to others for vote-bank politics. Congress made all these efforts knowing that all this was against the basic spirit of the Constitution. But Congress did not care about the Constitution….”
He said that when the Constitution was drafted, reservation based on religion was opposed so that SC, ST and OBCs could get protection but the grand old party toyed with the Constitution of the country.
“…Congress party has toyed with the Constitution of the country. When the Constitution was drafted, reservation based on religion was opposed, so that SC, ST and OBC castes could get protection. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his speech had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s resources. This was Manmohan Singh’s statement. Congress’s thinking has always been of appeasement and vote bank politics,” said the Prime Minister.
Referring to his statement while slamming the Congress manifesto at a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara on Sunday, PM Modi said that the grand old party went into panic mode and abused him when he exposed their politics.
“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 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…If you have the courage then accept it, we are ready to face you…,” said the Prime Minister.
PM Modi on Sunday alleged that the opposition party was planning to give people’s hard-earned money and valuables to “infiltrators” and “those who have more children” and referred to former PM Manmohan Singh’s speech in 2006 to contend he had said that Muslims have the “first claim” on the country’s resources.
“The Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom – Manmohan Singh’s government had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s assets,” PM Modi had said.
This statement drew a sharp response from Opposition leaders, with senior Congress leader P Chidambaram saying that he cannot recall that any other PM had made such “outrageous statements” with each sentence outdoing the previous one in its “absolute falsehood and brazen mendacity”.
In a post on X, Chidambaram said, “Will the BJP tell the world: when and where did the Congress say that we will distribute people’s land, gold and other valuables among Muslims? When and where did the Congress say that a survey will be conducted to value the property of individuals, gold held by women and silver owned by tribal families?” the former Union minister said.
“When and where did the Congress say that land and cash belonging to government employees will also be distributed,” he asked.
“The Prime Minister must have some respect for his predecessor. Dr Manmohan Singh’s speech to the NDC in December 2006 has been reproduced in the Indian Express today. Dr Singh had said that the first claim on resources lies with SC, ST, OBC, minorities, women and children. It is scandalous to distort his words as Mr Modi has done,” Chidambaram said.
“The level of debate has sunk to a new low after April 21. It is a shame,” he added.
The Congress while urging the Election Commission to take action against Modi for his “redistribution of wealth” remarks made in Rajasthan, alleged they were ‘divisive’, ‘malicious’ and targeted a particular religious community.
Rejecting the allegations that triggered a political row, AICC general secretary in-charge of the Congress, KC Venugopal said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has sought an appointment with the prime minister to “educate him” about its poll promise document.
PM Modi also attacked the Congress for banning Ram Navami 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…,” said PM Modi.
With inputs from agencies
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