New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congress is in favour of providing reservation to ‘everyone who is economically backward’.
In an interview with NDTV, Kharge accused the BJP of turning reservation into ‘Hindu-Muslim issue’ for polarizing voters.
During the early phase of campaign, PM Modi alleged that the Congress would give reservation to Muslims from the quota of Dalits and tribals.
The Congress was quick to deny, countering the Prime Minister’s arguments.
"We will give reservation to everyone who is economically backward. This is a policy matter and partners of the INDIA alliance will decide how to do this," Kharge was quoted as saying.
Countering the BJP he asked whether Constitution allows reservation to be given to Muslims on the basis of religion, adding ‘Does the Congress manifesto say this. Muslims who are poor must get justice. We stand by that, but they are turning this into a Hindu-Muslim issue to divide votes.’
Kharge claimed that the BJP denied people of the benefits of reservation by leaving as many as 30 lakhs positions vacant, adding that ‘Out of them, SC, ST and OBC candidates would have got around 15 lakh jobs. They are misleading people, lying to them. They are not recruiting professors in university, not getting candidates from SC, ST and OBC communities. They are getting RSS-trained people.’
Referring to the Congress leaders who crossed over to the BJP Kharge said they were not rooted in the party’s ideology.
"They would move around with Rahul Gandhi. He ensured that they get ministerial berths, helped them create a political identity. Now suddenly, they remember Ram Temple?" Kharge was quoted as saying.
Kharge expressed hope that the Congress will put up a good show in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, adding that the BJP tally reached its high point in the last election.