Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has said that PM Narendra Modi is trying to give a “communal colour” to OBC reservations in Karnataka, adding that he "spreads lies everywhere".
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Ramesh said the quota for Muslims, among other communities, in the OBC category was introduced in 1994 in Karnataka. The Congress was in power at the time in the state.
"We did not make religion the basis. We gave reservations given economic and social backwardness... After 1994, there have been 4 BJP chief ministers in Karnataka... Narendra Modi has been the Prime Minister for 10 years. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been the Prime Minister for 6 years and this issue has been raised after 30 years..." he added. "Some Muslim castes have also been included in the OBC list and the Prime Minister himself is taking credit for it... From April 19, the Prime Minister has only one issue... because he knows that 'dakshin Bharat me saaf, uttar Bharat me half'... The answer to the lies will be found only through votes."
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at an election rally in Jharkhand’s Palamu, said the Congress and allies Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) aim to snatch reservation from tribals, backward classes, and Dalits and give it to Muslims, adding that he won't allow even a shred of reservation based on religion.
“When our Constitution was being drafted, it was unanimously decided that reservations would never be granted in India based on religion. But now Congress-JMM and RJD collectively want to rob the reservation of tribals, backward classes, and Dalits and give it to Muslims based on religion,” Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.
On Friday, Ramesh told ANI that the Congress manifesto promises to raise the 50% reservation limit "as it is necessary for the SCs, STs, and OBCs to get their full rights". As he said this, he asked the PM to clarify if he would remove the reservation limit.