New Delhi/Bengaluru/Kalaburagi, Mar 24 (UNI) The BJP on Monday launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over his reported remarks on constitutional changes, accusing him and the Congress of indulging in Muslim appeasement politics.
Shivakumar, however, hit back, asserting that his statement was being misquoted.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, senior BJP leader and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad read out a statement attributed to Shivakumar on the issue of 4% Muslim reservation. "What does this mean? That the Constitution will be changed if needed? Now, he claims that he is being misquoted. Religion-based reservation is not permissible in our Constitution. Where will this Muslim appeasement politics go?" Prasad questioned.
He further alleged that the Congress was indulging in communal politics for electoral gains. "Did Rahul Gandhi go to Kumbh? Why is he ashamed? He was seen visiting temples earlier, but now that has stopped. This is all for votes. They are losing again and again but won’t stop Muslim appeasement," Prasad charged.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also lashed out at the Congress, stating that the party was a "threat to the Indian Constitution". "DK Shivakumar says that to support the illegal, unconstitutional Muslim reservation in government contracts is anti-Ambedkar and against the Constitution. Congress has always been against reservation and the rights of SC/ST and OBCs," he alleged.
Responding to the criticism, Shivakumar defended his statement, claiming that it was being twisted. "I am a sensible, senior politician, more experienced than Mr Nadda. I have been in the Assembly for 36 years. I have a basic common sense. I casually remarked that many changes occur after various judgements. As per the quota for backward classes, reservation has been given. I never said that we are going to change the Constitution," he asserted in Bengaluru.
He further warned of legal action against those misquoting him. "Whatever they are quoting is wrong. They are misrepresenting it. We are a national party. It is our party that brought the Constitution to this country. I will take breach of privilege on this and fight a case," he said.
In Kalaburagi, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa also hit out at Shivakumar, stating that if he truly respected the Constitution and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, he would not have made such a statement. "Everyone is aware that changes were made in the past, but reservation based on religion is not allowed. It is unfortunate the way he has spoken. I urge him to go through his statement," Vijayendra said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader CR Kesavan linked the controversy to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "Rahul Gandhi is the real voice behind DK Shivakumar’s alarming anti-constitutional remark. The Congress has always tried to snatch away guarantees given to SC/ST and OBC communities to serve its communal agenda. The real threat to the Constitution is the Congress," he alleged.
The political slugfest over the remarks comes amid the larger debate on reservation policies, with both the BJP and Congress seeking to position themselves as protectors of the Constitution in the run-up to the elections.
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