Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh):

Amid the ongoing debate between BJP and the Opposition leaders about the reservation and minority quota, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said 4 per cent of Muslim reservations “will remain” and that is YSR Congress Party’s “final word” on it.

Addressing a public gathering in Kurnool, he said, “On one hand, Chandrababu Naidu continues to join hands with the BJP which stands on removing the 4 per cent Muslim reservation, on the other hand, to seek minority votes, he comes up with new drama. Have you witnessed a chameleon-like Chandrababu Naidu? Come what may, 4 per cent of Muslim reservations will remain and that is YSR Congress Party’s final word on it. My only question to Chandrababu Naidu is why does he continue the alliance with the NDA even after the NDA government pledges to cancel the 4 per cent reservation?”

Commenting on the ongoing Lok Sabha election battle, Mr Reddy said, “In the next 4 days, the battle of Kurukshetra is set to take place. This election is not to elect MLAs and MPs, this election will decide the future of ongoing schemes and the development of every household. If you vote for Chandrababu Naidu, you are stopping all the welfare that this government has brought to the doorstep of the household.”

Criticising Chandrababu Naidu, he said, “For 14 years, Chandrababu Naidu boasts about being the CM – for a 3-year term. Does any poor remember the welfare that this man has brought to the State? We have brought welfare without discriminating against religion, caste, community, or other party members.”

Earlier, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s remarks on Muslim reservation had kicked up a storm and drew flak from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Muslims should get a reservation (reservation toh milna chahiye Musalmano ko, pura’…),” Mr Yadav said.

However, the RJD Chief later clarified that he was in favour of extending reservation benefits to Muslims but emphasized that it should be “based on social backwardness and not based on religion.”

“I implemented the ‘Mandal Commission’. Reservation samajik adhar par hota hai dharmik aadhar par nahi hota hai (it is based on social backwardness and not based on religion). Atal Bihari Vajpayee constituted the Constitution Review Commission,” Lalu Yadav said.

The Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held on May 13. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, the YSRCP won with a thumping majority of 151 seats, while the TDP was confined to 23 seats. In the Lok Sabha polls, the YSRCP won 22 seats, while the TDP could only win three seats.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Sagar, Madhya Pradesh:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused Congress of reducing the quota for the OBCs in Karnataka by putting Muslims castes in the same category, and claimed that it plans to replicate this across the country.

Speaking at an election rally in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, he dubbed the opposition party as the “biggest enemy of the OBCs”.

In the past, it had provided reservation based on religion which India’s Constitution does not allow, PM Modi said.

“Once again, Congress has given reservation on the basis of religion in Karnataka through backdoor by putting all Muslim castes along with the OBCs. By doing so, it has snatched a big chunk of reservation from the OBC community. Congress indulged in this dangerous game which will destroy your (future) generations. It is the biggest enemy of the OBCs,” he said.

In 2004, Congress provided reservation on the basis of religion, stabbing Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, architect of the Constitution, in the back, he said.

“Our Constitution clearly says that no one will be given reservation on the basis of religion. Babasaheb Ambedkar himself was against reservation on the basis of religion. But Congress made a dangerous resolution of (providing) reservation on the basis of religion years ago. It is adopting various tactics to fulfill the resolution,” he said.

In Karnataka, the party provided such a quota by resorting to an illegal trick, PM Modi said.

“All castes of Muslims have been added to the OBC quota. By doing this, the huge rights given to OBCs were snatched away and given (to others) on the basis of religion,” the Prime Minister said, claiming that Congress wanted to implement the same model in the entire country.

“The biggest enemy of the OBC community is Congress, which has snatched away their rights. Congress has murdered social justice, violated the spirit of the Constitution and insulted Babasaheb,” he added.

The PM also slammed Congress for its ‘plans’ to impose inheritance tax on the wealth saved by one’s ancestors.

Madhya Pradesh was known as a ‘Bimaru’ (ailing/backward) state under the Congress rule and development began only when the BJP came to power, PM Modi said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)