Central Home Minister Amit Shah recently made a strong statement asserting that as long as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains in power, there will be no reservation based on religion in India.
Key Points from Amit Shah’s Speech
Speaking at a public rally in Payam, Jharkhand, Amit Shah addressed the issue of religion-based reservations, making his stance clear:
Constitutional Stance:
- He emphasized that the Indian Constitution does not allow for reservations based on religion. According to him, granting reservations based on religion would go against the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
- Shah criticized the Congress party for discussing religion-based reservations despite there being no legal provision for it.
Criticism of Congress:
- Amit Shah accused the Congress party of wanting to reduce the reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in order to allocate a 10% reservation to Muslims.
- He argued that Congress was trying to implement this policy for political gains, aiming to appease minority communities at the cost of existing beneficiaries of reservation.
BJP’s Firm Stance:
- Shah categorically stated that as long as the BJP is in power, there will be no religion-based reservation for minorities in the country.
- He reiterated the BJP’s opposition to what they perceive as “appeasement politics,” where policies are framed to cater to specific religious communities.
The Debate on Religion-Based Reservations
This statement from Amit Shah comes at a time when the debate around religion-based reservations has gained momentum in various political circles. The central government’s position, as expressed by Shah, is that reservation policies should be based on economic, social, and educational criteria rather than religion. According to the BJP, implementing reservations based on religion would violate the constitutional values of equality and secularism.
Criticism from Opposition Parties
Opposition parties, including Congress, have been advocating for increased reservations for certain sections of the Muslim community, particularly those who are socio-economically disadvantaged. They argue that providing reservations based on socio-economic criteria, which may include religious minorities, is essential for uplifting these marginalized groups.
However, the BJP has consistently opposed such moves, arguing that reservations should remain focused on socio-economic status rather than religious identity. Amit Shah’s statement serves as a reaffirmation of the party’s stance against religion-based quotas, aligning with the BJP’s long-standing policy of opposing any form of religious favoritism in reservation policies.
The debate over this issue continues to be a point of contention between political parties, reflecting their differing approaches to social justice and affirmative action in the country.
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