Rijiju Accuses Congress of Altering Constitution for Muslim Reservation, Kharge Refutes
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Synopsis
On March 24, the Rajya Sabha was engulfed in a fierce debate as BJP's Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress government in Karnataka of pursuing Muslim reservation and attempting to amend the Constitution. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge strongly denied these claims, asserting the party's commitment to preserving constitutional integrity.
Key Takeaways
- Rajya Sabha saw intense debates over Muslim reservation.
- Kiren Rijiju accused Congress of constitutional amendments.
- Mallikarjun Kharge denied all allegations.
- J.P. Nadda highlighted constitutional principles against religious reservations.
- Heated exchanges led to adjournment of House proceedings.
New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) The Rajya Sabha experienced a fiery debate on Monday as the BJP accused the Congress administration in Karnataka of implementing Muslim reservation, asserting that Congress leaders were eager to amend the Constitution for this purpose. The accusations, made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, were vehemently refuted by Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Upon the House's opening on Monday, Rijiju expressed concerns over comments reportedly made by senior Congress figures in Karnataka. "A very serious matter has come to our attention," he stated, adding, "A senior Congress leader occupying a constitutional role has asserted he is prepared to modify the Constitution to provide reservation for the Muslim community."
Expressing his disapproval, Rijiju noted, "If an ordinary citizen had made such a comment, we could have overlooked it. However, when someone in a constitutional role makes such statements, it cannot be disregarded. These individuals display Babasaheb Ambedkar's portrait yet propose altering his Constitution."
Rijiju directly challenged Kharge, asking, "What is Congress's strategy to amend the Constitution for Muslim reservation? The Leader of the Opposition must clarify the party's stance on this critical issue."
Leader of the House J.P. Nadda also accused Congress of compromising the Constitution. "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar made it clear that reservations should not be based on religion. This is a fundamental principle. Nonetheless, in Karnataka, the Congress government has enacted a 4 percent reservation for minorities in public contracts," Nadda claimed.
Nadda further asserted that the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka had publicly stated that the Constitution could be changed if needed to facilitate Muslim reservation. He demanded an immediate reversal of such policies and insisted that Kharge offer a straightforward explanation.
In response, Kharge denied the allegations, declaring that Congress is devoted to preserving the Constitution. "No one can alter the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Who is this individual asserting that we plan to do so? Our 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir aimed at defending the Constitution," he stated.
Rijiju, however, stood his ground. "I want to officially note that both the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Congress State President have made these comments, and I am ready to substantiate them," he insisted.
He also claimed that Sardar Patel had rejected a similar proposal from the Muslim League during the Constituent Assembly discussions.
As tensions escalated, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar intervened, urging the ruling party to confirm its assertions. Despite this, the heated discussions persisted, ultimately resulting in the adjournment of the House's proceedings.
