The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Congress party has openly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify his position on the possibility of amending the constitutional cap on reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). This confrontation arises amidst accusations from the Congress that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intends to change the Constitution to end reservations, leveraging their goal of obtaining a significant majority in the Lok Sabha elections.
At a press conference held at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, expressed concerns over the BJP’s alleged plans to surpass the ‘400 paar’ mark in the Lok Sabha for this purpose. Ramesh criticized the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for their historical opposition to secularism and social justice, a stance he claimed dates back to the drafting of the Constitution in 1949.
Ramesh also highlighted the Congress party’s commitment to removing the 50% cap on reservations, contrasting it with the BJP’s policies. He discussed the ‘Shramik Nyay’ and other guarantees from the Congress’s manifesto, including a proposed Rs 400 per day national minimum wage and extensive health coverage plans, as part of their election campaign.
The Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of misrepresenting their manifesto by attributing communal motives to it and called for Modi to substantiate his accusations of religion-based reservations promoted by Congress.
As the debate heats up, the political narrative surrounding reservations and constitutional amendments is likely to play a significant role in the ongoing election campaign, with both major parties vying to secure their positions on these critical issues.