Shah attacks Cong for ‘acceding to’ Muslim quota demand in Maha

Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress for allegedly promising help to the All-India Ulema Board for getting 10 per cent reservation for Muslims in Maharashtra.

The board had recently submitted its demands to the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra. Reacting to the development, Shah said Muslim quota would not become a reality “as long as the BJP exists”. “A group of some Ulemas submitted a memorandum to them about 10 per cent reservation to Muslims, and the Congress state chief Nana Patole said that they will help them in it. Congress wants to give 10 per cent reservation to Muslims by decreasing the reservation limit of OBCs, Dalits and tribal. Do you want this to happen?” Shah asked at a poll rally in Maharashtra’s Raver on Sunday, a rhetoric which he had repeated at a rally in Palamu, Jharkhand, on Saturday.

He added that the failure of Congress and its MVA partners to rebuff the demand straightaway, marked an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji’s legacy. “I would like to warn Rahul Gandhi until the time the BJP is present in this country, minorities won’t get reservations. Reservation to OBCs, Dalits and tribal people is given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar and you can’t disrespect it,” Shah said.