• Source:JND
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Congress of being anti-backwards classes, alleging that if the party comes to power in Haryana, it will revoke reservations for backward classes and allocate them to Muslims. Speaking at the 'Backward Classes Samman Sammelan,' Shah highlighted the Kaka Kalelkar Commission established in the 1950s to recommend reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which he claimed Congress did not implement for many years.

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"In 1980, (the then prime minister) Indira Gandhi put the Mandal Commission in cold storage. In 1990, when it was accepted, Rajiv Gandhi gave a two-and-a-half-hour speech and opposed OBC reservation," the Union minister said. "In Karnataka, the Congress snatched reservation for backward classes and gave it to Muslims. The same will happen here if they come (to power) here," Shah said. "I want to assure you that we (BJP) will not allow Muslim reservation in Haryana. We will protect the rights of backward classes," he said.

He accused the Congress in Karnataka of reallocating reservations from backward classes to Muslims and warned that similar actions would occur in Haryana if the Congress gains power. Shah assured the audience that the BJP would not permit reservations for Muslims in Haryana and vowed to protect the rights of backward classes. He expressed confidence that the BJP would secure a full majority in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections and urged backward classes to support the party.

Shah noted that when Narendra Modi became prime minister in 2014, he declared his government to be one for Dalits, the poor, and backward classes. Shah mentioned that 27 Union ministers are from backward classes, including two from Haryana. He also highlighted the recent decisions taken by the Haryana government under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, such as raising the annual income limit for the creamy layer of OBCs from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.

Earlier in panchayats, Shah said, there was 8 per cent reservation for backward classes in Group A posts. Now, in addition to this, 5 per cent reservation will be provided in Group B posts.

(With PTI Inputs)