Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly criticized Congress for advocating the removal of the Supreme Court-mandated 50% cap on reservations. Shah alleged that this move is part of an effort to grant quotas to Muslims. Addressing the Rajya Sabha during a two-day debate to commemorate 75 years of the Indian Constitution, Shah declared, “Congress does not aim to uplift the OBCs; their intent is to increase the reservation limit to provide quotas for Muslims. However, as long as the BJP has even one Member of Parliament, we will never allow reservations based on religion.”
BJP’s Commitment to Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
Shah reiterated the BJP’s promise to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across all states through democratic processes. Highlighting Uttarakhand as a state where UCC has already been introduced, Shah assured that a model law would be extended nationwide.
He criticized the decision of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to implement the Muslim Personal Law instead of a UCC, which had been supported by B.R. Ambedkar and other leaders in the Constituent Assembly. According to Shah, this decision marked the beginning of “appeasement politics” in India. He challenged Congress to clarify its stance on retaining the Muslim Personal Law in a secular nation, stating, “In a secular country, should there not be a common law for all citizens?”
Sharp Critique of Congress’ Policies
The Home Minister accused Congress of undermining the OBC community’s welfare and engaging in dynastic politics, appeasement, and corruption. Shah alleged that Congress has introduced unconstitutional, religion-based reservations in some states where it governs.
He recalled Congress’s historical opposition to OBC reservations, pointing to its disregard for the recommendations of the Kaka Saheb Kalelkar Commission in the 1950s and the Mandal Commission in the 1980s. “Congress has always worked against the interests of OBCs and never respected Ambedkar. In fact, Ambedkar had to resign from Nehru’s Cabinet due to serious disagreements over critical issues, including Article 370,” Shah asserted.
Emergency and the Constitution
Amit Shah also slammed Congress for its claims of defending the Constitution, calling its “Constitution-is-in-danger” campaign a fraudulent narrative. He referenced the imposition of Emergency under Indira Gandhi, during which fundamental rights were suspended. Shah recounted, “Eighteen High Court judges, including four Chief Justices, were transferred simply for admitting habeas corpus petitions. The then Attorney General even argued that the right to life was not available to citizens during Emergency.”
Attacks on Congress Leadership
Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah referred to him as the “54-year-old self-proclaimed ‘youth leader'” who carries a copy of the Constitution while alleging that the BJP intends to alter it. Shah responded, “The Constitution allows amendments, but the purpose matters. While Congress manipulated the Constitution to serve a single family, the BJP has always sought amendments for the greater social good.”
He concluded by emphasizing that Congress’ claims of defending democracy are hypocritical, given its history of undermining constitutional processes. Shah remarked that the people of India have seen through Congress’ tactics, as evidenced by their poor performance in recent elections, including the rout in Maharashtra.