Lalu Yadav's 'Reservation For Muslim' Remark Triggers Row, BJP's 'Told You So' Moment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the I.N.D.I.A bloc leader has revealed the Congress and its allies' intention to transfer the SC, ST and OBC's quota to the largest minority community in the country.

RJD President Lalu Prasad's remark calling for reservation benefits to Muslims has led to a political storm with the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, going all out against the former Bihar Chief Minister.

Lalu Prasad said he was in favour of extending reservation benefits to Muslims and alleged that the BJP ruling in the centre wanted to do away with reservations by scrapping the Constitution.

The RJD supremo, who was attending a swearing-in ceremony of his wife Rabri Devi as an MLC, was reacting to the 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hitting out at the former Bihar CM, said the I.N.D.I.A bloc leader has revealed the Congress and its allies' intention to transfer the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes' quota to the largest minority community in the country.

"Congress is silent but today one of its allies confirmed the intentions of the INDI alliance. Their leader, who is in jail in connection with the fodder scam and has been punished by the court...He has just come out on bail... He said that Muslims should get reservation and not just reservation, he says that Muslims should get ‘complete’ reservation. What does this mean?" Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a rally in Madhya Pradesh.

He further said that the Congress and the opposition alliance are playing a dangerous game and said the conspiracy of Congress and I.N.D.I.A alliance have been exposed. 

"A dangerous conspiracy of the Congress and INDI alliance has been exposed. They are playing a very dangerous game. Today, an INDI alliance partner, who was in jail in the fodder scam (referring to Lalu Prasad Yadav), has said that the INDI alliance will give full reservation to the Muslims if they form the government," PM Modi said at a rally in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar.

BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi attacked Lalu Yadav saying that the word, 'pura ka pura' (full), used by the former Bihar CM in his statement is very serious. 

"The thing worth noticing in the statement given by Lalu Prasad Yadav is that the most serious word he was asked about the Muslim community, he said yes Muslims should get reservation 'poora ka poora'. It became clear that they want to give reservation to the Muslim community by snatching the share of SC, ST and OBC," Trivedi said during a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi. 

"The apprehensions expressed by BJP and PM Modi are now proving to be completely true. The genie of Muslim reservation has come out of the lamp of the INDI alliance and is visible in the sky from the South to the plains of Ganga," Trivedi said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that Lalu's statement has confirmed the apprehensions that the opposition alliance want to make make reservation to ensure backdoor entry for Muslims.

"This was an allegation from the beginning that Congress and INDI alliance want to make reservation to ensure backdoor entry for Muslims. Today Lalu Yadav's statement has vindicated our apprehension," the Assam CM said.

Earlier today, Lalu Prasad Yadav also alleged that PM Modi will finish reservation and added that the basis of reservation is social.

"We were behind Mandal Commission. The basis for reservation is social. Narendra Modi wants to finish reservation. Religion can not be a basis for reservation. I am senior to Narendra Modi. Third phase of election is going on well. It is in favour of Mahagathbandhan. We will be ahead on all the five seats."