In a recent rally in Palamu, Jharkhand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a firm stand against the idea of religion-based reservation, particularly targeting the Congress’s alleged push for reservations for Muslims.
Shah declared that as long as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governs, there would be no reservations based on religion, emphasising that the current structure provides quotas only for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Dalits, and tribal communities.
Shah’s statement was a direct criticism of Congress’s stance on reservations. He argued that Congress has plans to reduce the reservation quota for OBCs, Dalits, and tribal groups to accommodate a new reservation for Muslims, a move he said was unfair and against the constitutional framework. According to Shah, “Congress talks about reservation, but in our constitution, there is no such provision to give reservation on the basis of religion.”
Pointing to recent developments in Maharashtra, Shah mentioned a request made by some Muslim groups to the Congress, asking for a 10 percent reservation. He accused Congress leaders in Maharashtra of supporting this move, claiming it could dilute the opportunities reserved for other marginalised groups.
Shah warned that under BJP’s watch, no minority group would receive reservations. “Reservation to OBCs, Dalits, and tribal is given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar, and you can’t disrespect it,” he added, calling Congress’s proposal a betrayal of these communities.
Labelling Congress as “anti-OBC,” Shah went on to recount Congress’s past actions, accusing them of delaying and even opposing measures to benefit OBCs.
He cited instances such as the Kaka Kalelkar Committee and the Mandal Commission reports, which were aimed at improving OBC representation but allegedly faced opposition or neglect under Congress leadership.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, Shah highlighted that when Modi came to power, he took significant steps to support the OBC community.
He noted that the Modi administration granted a 27 percent reservation for OBCs in central institutions and established the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), providing it with constitutional authority. According to Shah, these moves demonstrated BJP’s commitment to uplift OBCs, in contrast to Congress’s history of opposing OBC-friendly policies.
In addition to addressing the reservation issue, Shah launched a sharp critique of the current ruling coalition in Jharkhand, which includes the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
He accused them of running one of the “most corrupt” state governments in the country. Shah cited incidents where substantial amounts of money were seized, including Rs 300 crore reportedly confiscated from the residence of a Congress Member of Parliament. He alleged that 27 counting machines were needed to tally the amount, and that the Jharkhand government had turned a blind eye to this corruption.
Amit Shah also brought attention to Rs 30 crore allegedly found at the residence of a personal assistant to a state minister, suggesting that this was evidence of extensive corruption within the JMM-Congress-RJD government.
He accused the administration of allowing resources meant for Jharkhand’s poor and unemployed youth to be misappropriated. Shah appealed to voters to elect a BJP-led government in the state, promising to tackle corruption and prosecute those involved in financial misconduct.
As the date for the Jharkhand Assembly elections approaches, political tensions are high. The polls will be conducted in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the vote counting scheduled for November 23. The 81-member assembly holds considerable significance for both national and state-level politics, as the outcome will shape Jharkhand’s governance for the next five years.
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