Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent claims regarding reservation policies in the state, and labeled Modi's assertions as a "blatant lie" accusing him of lacking basic knowledge on the issue.
In a recent election rally in Rajasthan’s Tonk, PM Modi alleged that the Congress party had transferred reservation quotas from backward classes and Dalits to Muslims. He claimed that the Congress attempted to extend reservation to Muslims from the Dalit quota and accused the party of implementing a "deep conspiracy" for vote bank politics.
Responding to these allegations, Siddaramaiah on Thursday here defended the 4 percent reservation for Muslims under the backward classes category in Karnataka. He emphasized that this reservation has been in place for decades and has not been challenged by any previous governments, including the BJP.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that the Congress has transferred the reservation quota from backward classes and Dalits to Muslims is a blatant lie," Siddaramaiah stated while addressing the media.
He called on PM Modi to substantiate these allegations with evidence or apologise to the nation.
Siddaramaiah also highlighted that any changes to constitutional reservations require approval from both Houses of Parliament and cannot be arbitrarily amended. He criticized PM Modi for lacking knowledge on the issue and overlooking important information, such as the Supreme Court's stay on the cancellation of the 4 percent reservation for Muslims.
The Chief Minister also questioned PM Modi's achievements during his tenure, suggesting that he is a failed leader. He pointed out that despite governing for the last 10 years, PM Modi's lack of significant achievements is evident.
In conclusion, Siddaramaiah expressed eagerness to know the opinion of PM Modi's new ally and JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda on the matter, urging him to clarify his stance on reservation policies.