INDIA parties standing together in looting reservation of SC, ST, OBC: PM Modi

Narendra Modi. Pic/AFP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to staunchly defend the reservation for ST, SC and OBC categories against any attempt by the INDIA bloc parties "to snatch it away" and give it to Muslims, reported PTI.

"I will not allow this game to be played on the basis of religion. PM Modi is the watchman of the rights of the deprived people ('vanchito kaa jo adhikaar hai, Modi usskaa chowkidaar hai')," the prime minister said at an election rally in Ghazipur. Hitting out at the INDIA bloc parties, Modi accused them of being "extremely communal, casteist and dynastic", reported PTI.

"They have always stopped Dalits and backwards in the country from moving ahead. Who insulted Babasaheb (B R Ambedkar)? Who hatched a conspiracy to defeat him in the election? It was the Congress. Who did not allow Babasaheb to get Bharat Ratna? The Congress party," he said. Modi said the opposition parties insulted former president Ram Nath Kovind, "son of a Dalit", and got together against Droupadi Murmu, a tribal, in the presidential elections. "The INDI alliance is standing together in looting the reservation of SCs, STs and OBC. But Modi is standing firmly in front of them... and I guarantee that as long as Modi is alive, I will not let them snatch away reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs," PM Modi said. He referred to Muslims being included in backward classes in Karnataka under the Congress and the Calcutta High Court order cancelling OBC certificates issued since 2010 in West Bengal, reported PTI.

"A big conspiracy of theirs has been unveiled in Bengal. Two days ago, the Calcutta High Court had lifted the curtains. What game was going on there? In Bengal, almost the entire OBC reservation was being given to Muslims," he alleged PM Modi also attacked the Congress on the delay in the implementation of 'One Rank, One Pension' for ex-servicemen and the Samajwadi Party on the reign of terror by the mafia under its rule. In the Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat, the main contest is between Afzal Ansari of the Samajwadi Party and Paras Nath Rai of the BJP. Afzal Ansari is the brother of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari who died on March 28. Voting for the seat will take place in the seventh phase on June 1. Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Modi said, "SP's 'shahzade' (prince) once said that he would stop the entry of mafia. Then he went and sat at the feet of the mafia. The SP also nurtured the mafia and gave them (poll) tickets." "A person who cannot stick to his stand can never fight for you," PM Modi said, reported PTI.

"During the SP rule (in Uttar Pradesh), the situation was such that the mafia used to roam around with red beacons (on their cars).. and opponents were shot dead openly. Riots had become the identity of UP. There were two-three riots every month during the SP rule," he alleged. "The poor were the ones who suffered because of this. Now under Yogi (Adityanath) Ji's government, riots have stopped and rioters are behind bars."

He alleged the INDIA bloc is crossing all limits in appeasement. "These people are insulting the Ram temple. An SP leader says that the Ram temple is 'bekaar' (useless)... The 'shahzade' (prince) of the Congress is planning to put a lock on the Ram temple. "Not only this, the INDI alliance has announced that they will bring back Article 370 in Kashmir. This means that the Congress will push Kashmir once again into the fire of terrorism, the Congress will once again strengthen the morale of Pakistan, they once again want our soldiers to bleed," PM Modi alleged, reported PTI.

Referring to Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, PM Modi said, "Every person from Ghazipur feels proud that today a son of Ghazipur is controlling the command of Jammu and Kashmir. "People of Kashmir are also seeing how development is done. Now, even people in Kashmir have come to know the name of Ghazipur."

PM Modi said that the welfare schemes of his government have changed the lives of the poor. "In just 10 years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty. This happened because your vote strengthened Modi. "We provided PM housing to four crore families. We opened bank accounts for 50 crore poor people and provided electricity to every village. We are providing water to every home. Today a poor person does not have to sell his land for treatment because he has an Ayushman card," PM Modi said, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)