Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the Congress had shifted the reservation quota from backward classes to Muslims as a "blatant lie." He further defended the allocation of 4 percent reservation for Muslims within the backward classes category in Karnataka.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said, “It stems from ignorance but also indicative of his desperation born from a fear of defeat. No leader in the history of our country has ever demeaned the office of the prime minister to such a low level.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that the Congress has transferred the reservation quota from backward classes and Dalits to Muslims is a blatant lie,” he said.
Being in a position of responsibility, Prime Minister Modi should either substantiate these “irresponsible allegations” with evidence or “apologise to the nation,” Siddaramaiah said.
During an election rally in Rajasthan's Tonk on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi accused the Congress of attempting to extend reservation to Muslims from the Dalit quota. He reiterated his accusation that the party is engaged in a "deep conspiracy" to seize people's wealth and distribute it among a select group.
Further, Siddaramaiah said, "It’s true that in Karnataka, Muslims have been included in the ‘2B category’ for backward classes and this is not something done now."
On Karnataka government including all castes and communities of Muslims in the state in the list of OBCs, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Congress' statement is very unfortunate. This is a part of despicable attempts at Islamisation of India and pushing it towards divisions. When the UPA Government came to power, it made such attempts at that time too...At that time too BJP had carried out a massive agitation. So, be it Justice Verma committee report or Sachar Committee Report - they were all attempts by Congress to loot the reservation of OBCs, SCs, STs."