Congress can't rob OBCs of their quota right if Modi is there: PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress, RJD, and opposition INDIA bloc of creating confusion in order to do away with the use of EVMs in elections and alleged that they wanted to continue with booth and ballot loot they used to do earlier. “But the Supreme Court gave them such a slap on their face that they won’t be able to look up. People of Bihar are witness to the ballot paper and polling booth loot during the RJD-Congress regime which had denied the poor their right to vote,” he said.

Addressing poll rallies in Araria and Munger in Bihar on Friday, Modi also lambasted the opposition while accusing the Congress of trying to implement its “Karnataka model” of robbing the OBCs of their 27 per cent quota by including all the Muslims, irrespective of their financial status, in the backward castes list. He alleged that Congress could go to any extent to change the Constitution as part of its Muslim appeasement policy. He referred to former PM Manmohan Singh’s statement during the Congress-led UPA rule that Muslims have the first right over national resources.

To give a befitting reply to his opponents who keep saying that Modi will finish the Constitution and is up to kill democracy and democratic institutions in the country, PM asked people to raise slogans like ‘Baba Saheb Ambedkar zindabad’ and ‘Loktantra zindabad’ to drive home his point. “I always act as per the Constitution and believe that the poor, irrespective of religion, have their first right over the national resources,” Modi said, while appealing to the young electorates to vote as “in my third term, I will make bigger decisions in the national interest”.

The PM said the opposition INDI Alliance wanted to bring religion-based reservation, which was against the principles of BR Ambedkar. The Supreme Court also refused religion-based reservation. “That’s why they (Congress) are trying to bring it through the backdoor. In Karnataka, they introduced a law giving the Muslims a large part in the 27% quota meant for the OBCs. They want to do the same in other parts of the country. Later, they have plans to rob the SCs/STs of their reservation rights the same way,” he alleged.

Without naming former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad, Modi said RJD was clapping and did not utter a word on the Congress’s Karnataka model as they are hand in glove for their vote bank politics. “The rights of the OBCs are being looted and RJD is clapping. But if Modi is there, these people cannot do this. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, amid a huge round of applause from the audience.

Modi said while the INDI Alliance believes in “appeasement” (tushtikaran), the BJP-led NDA always promoted “santushtikaran” (satisfaction of all). “Jiske hak ka hai usko milna chahiye. I provided tap water, toilet, electricity and free ration to the mothers and sisters without asking about their religion. This is true secularism and social justice,” the PM said.

“My govt has sent Rs 50,000 crore to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through direct benefit transfer (DBT) in Bihar alone in the last 10 years,” he said in Araria.

Referring to the inheritance tax issue raised by Congress’s Sam Pitroda, Modi also alleged that they now had an evil eye on people’s ancestral property. “Congress’s shehzada (Rahul Gandhi) says they will survey all the houses and land of farmers and bring inheritance tax… Congress has plans to bring such a law that you will not be able to bequeath your land and property to your children. The ‘guru’ of the ‘shehzada’ is saying that they will grab more than half of your property if they come to power. And RJD is silent because they also want to enjoy it,” he said.

In an oblique reference to the job issue frequently raised by the RJD, Modi said more investments would come to Bihar to provide more employment opportunities. He also targeted RJD chief Lalu Prasad without mentioning his name and said Munger suffered the most from the jungle raj during the lantern (RJD poll symbol) era. He praised his ally and CM Nitish Kumar, whose NDA govt brought Bihar out of that phase. He said the country was now producing rail tracks, train coaches, and engines and Bihar would benefit in a big way by such developments. He was referring to the Jamalpur rail factory in Munger and said the area will play a big role in pulse production. He said his govt is committed to promote Ayurveda and Munger Yoga Institute to provide employment opportunities in the region.

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