'Will Take Beyond 50%...': Rahul Gandhi On Reservation After Facing Flak; Gets 'Death Threat' Over Sikh Remark

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi issued clarification over his remarks on reservation in India after it triggered a row.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's comments on reservation and Sikhs during US trip triggered massive row in India.

Source : PTI

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi issued a clarification after his remarks on reservations in India sparked a row. During an interaction with students and faculty of Georgetown University in Washington DC, the Congress leader had said that the party will "think of ending reservation when India is a fair place." His remark drew the ire of the Bharatiya Janata Party who criticised them saying he wanted to end reservation.

Following the backlash, the Raebareli MP issued a clarification saying he is not against reservation and would rather take it beyond 50 per cent.

“Yesterday someone misrepresented my statement that I am against reservation. But let me make it clear – I am not against reservation. We will take reservations beyond the limit of 50 per cent," Gandhi clarified during an interview at the National Press Club in the US.

What Did Rahul Gandhi Say

During an interaction at the prestigious Georgetown University, Gandhi said that the reservation would be ended by the Congress party when India was a fair place. However, he said that he believed India was yet to reach that point.

“We will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place. And India is not a fair place,” Gandhi told students at the university in response to a question on the reservation and how long it would continue.

The BJP was quick to train guns against Gandhi. Union Minister Amit Shah said: "By speaking about abolishing reservations in the country, Rahul Gandhi has once again brought the Congress’s anti-reservation face to the forefront. The thoughts that were in his mind eventually found their way out as words."

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati also targeted Gandhi alleging that the Congress was conspiring to end reservation in India.

" Be cautious of this drama of the supreme leader of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi. He has said that when India is in a better condition, they will end the reservations of SC, ST, and OBCs. This makes it clear that Congress has been conspiring to end their reservation for years," she said.

READ HERE: Mayawati Lashes Out At Rahul Gandhi After 'Will Scrap Reservation When...' Comment

BJP Leader Threatens Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi was caught in the eye of another storm after his remarks over his remarks on Sikhs. Gandhi said that the RSS considers certain states, languages, religions, and communities to be inferior to others.

"First of all, you have to understand the fight is not about politics. The fight is about whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear his turban or go to the Gurdwara in India. It's not just for Sikhs, but for all religions," he said.

His remark triggered a massive row with BJP leaders lashing out at the Congress leader. BJP leader and three-time MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah went further and threatened Gandhi saying he "better behave or he will meet the same fate as his grandmother," in an apparent reference to the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi.

“Rahul Gandhi you better behave, else you will meet the same fate as your grandmother,” said the BJP leader.