Increase 50% reservation cap: Rahul Gandhi Challenges PM Modi

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday threw down the gauntlet to PM Modi asking him to eliminate the 50% cap on reservation, which he promised the Congress will do, The News Minute reported.

Addressing a campaign rally in Adilabad, Telangana, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of harbouring anti-reservation sentiments.

Alleging that the BJP has agenda to dismantle reservation, he said: "Modi ji is against reservation, he wants to take away reservation from you. Modi ji should tell the country that he will remove the 50% cap on reservation, he never mentioned in his speeches that he will remove the 50% cap on reservation. Congress government will do it,"

Calling the Lok Sabha Polls a clash of ideologies, he said the Congress is trying to protect the Constitution where the BJP and the RSS are trying to do away with it.

"BJP leaders may not end reservation, but individuals aligned with their ideology want to dismantle the Constitution and introduce privatisation instead. We've to come together and bring a government for the poor, the adivasis, and the Dalits," he was quoted as saying.

Rahul said the Congress aims to increase reservations for STs, SCs beyond its promise of breaching the 50% cap.

The Congress leader called implementation of contract system in jobs and accused the ruling party of allowing privatisation within the public sector.

"We will abolish contract systems in government offices and the public sector, ensuring permanent employment opportunities," he was quoted as saying.

Citing the BJP leaders’ alleged statement of changing the Constitution, he said changing the Constitution would lead to the end of reservation policies, adding that he said the BJP keeps backward classes, Dalits, and Adivasis, marginalised.