Congress Slams BJP for Spreading Falsehoods Over DK Shivakumar Controversy

New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, is at the center of a political controversy due to his supposed comments about modifying the Constitution to establish religion-based reservations. In response, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate addressed the matter on Tuesday.

In an interview with IANS, Supriya Shrinate accused the BJP of disseminating falsehoods, stating, "The BJP is lying. They are fabricating stories and making baseless claims. The four percent reservation being offered in Karnataka is for Backward Class Muslims under the 2B category.

These Muslims already benefitted from reservations in education and employment, and now they are also eligible for government contracts. The reservation threshold for SCs, STs, and other OBCs has been elevated from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore for government contracts. So, does the BJP oppose reservations or are they against government contract reservations? The reality is that the BJP and RSS have consistently opposed reservations, and this is evident once more."

Shrinate also commented on the recent controversy involving comedian Kunal Kamra's indirect jab at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with his 'gaddar' remark.

"Being part of the government means you should be prepared for sarcasm and criticism," she stated.

"Recently, the Prime Minister himself mentioned that sharp criticism is necessary. So, why doesn’t Shinde ji take this lesson and learn to tolerate it? The actual issue lies in the chaos, demolitions, and 'bulldozer justice' occurring under the Maharashtra government, which clearly indicates a breakdown in law and order.

"I firmly believe that criticism and sarcasm have a rightful role in a democracy, and if they are not accepted, something is amiss. Regarding Shiv Sena, what you did was nothing short of betrayal, so what's the problem with labeling a traitor as a traitor?" she added.

Shrinate further addressed the recent major disruptions in the Odisha Assembly, as members from the Opposition parties, Biju Janata Dal and Congress, continued to protest loudly over the escalating crimes against women and the demand for quotas for SCs/STs and OBCs.

"The violence against women has escalated into a calamity. Forty-four thousand women and children are missing in Odisha. Forty-nine women go missing every day in the country, including thirteen who are children. The most significant concern in Odisha is the government’s apparent indifference.

"Young girls are being victims of gang rape. Sixty-four incidents of gang rape have occurred in the last nine months. What actions is the government taking? Gang rapes are happening in Mayurbhanj. And the accused openly shares his photo with the Chief Minister of Odisha," she said.

"Young girls are suffering from sexual exploitation. Girls as young as sixth and tenth grades have been found pregnant. What will the government do about this? Is this not a pressing issue? Are the safety and identity of Odisha's daughters not a concern for you?

"It doesn’t matter to us if it’s not a concern for you. We will prioritize this issue because it involves the daughters of the nation, and the truth is that we have previously protested at the Chief Minister's residence. What about the Collector? And now on March 27, we plan to protest at the Vidhan Sabha. Even if you have suspended our MLAs, physically confronted them, or abused them, we will not be intimidated. We will continue to fight for their justice," she concluded.