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Amit Shah attacked Congress over caste census, saying it wasn’t the party’s intention. (Image: News18)
Amit Shah to News18: “The Congress suppressed the Mandal Commission. OBC and backward class people were not given reservation in central institutions…When the Mandal Commission recommendations were being implemented, as opposition leader Rajiv Gandhi had delivered a speech in protest for two hours. Rahul Gandhi should read that speech.”
Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah, in an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, said the Congress is against the backward class.
When asked about the Congress’s caste census mentioned in the manifesto, Shah said, “For how many years has the Congress been in power in this country? It was in power for 55 years. It has never done anything. Now when they are losing continuously, they are saying all these things; this is not their intention.”
“If there is any party in this country that is against the backward class, then it is only one party, the Congress party. They did not open the Kakasaheb Kalelkar Commission for years. They suppressed the Mandal Commission. OBC and backward class people were not given reservation in central institutions. When the Mandal Commission recommendations were being implemented, as opposition leader, Rajiv Gandhi had delivered a speech in protest for two hours. Rahul Gandhi should read that speech,” he said.
Shah added, “And we have given the country the most successful Prime Minister from the backward class and a poor family, a natural leader in the form of Narendra Modi.”
The BJP has been saying that the Congress will reduce OBC reservation and give it to Muslims. “This is not mentioned in this manifesto, this is what their government has already done in Karnataka. Overnight all the Muslims of Karnataka were made backward. No survey for backwardness was done, no commission was formed. All the people were declared backward on the basis of religion. And they were given reservation. And the reservation that was reduced was of OBCs,” Shah said.
He added: “Similarly, when they had government in united Andhra Pradesh, they gave reservation to Muslims. So, whose reservation was reduced? Of course, of SCs, STs, and OBCs. When I said that we would end the reservation on the basis of religion, then my video was distorted and presented in front of the public.”
Watch the full interview on CNN-News18 at 9pm on Thursday.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.