Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 21 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) SC Morcha National General Secretary, Sanjay Nirmal, claimed on Friday that the Congress party has always been against the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) since Independence.
He also accused Congress of failing to respect Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP's media center in Jammu, Nirmal said, "The Congress's animosity towards SCs, STs, and OBCs has resurfaced after Rahul Gandhi said on foreign soil that they would consider scrapping reservations for these communities."
On September 9, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that the Congress party will think of scrapping reservations when India becomes a "fair place," which it is not. The Congress leader was interacting with students and faculty at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
He also reiterated the need to conduct a caste census while saying that 90 per cent of the country's population--OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis--not having proper representation in the country is the "elephant in the room."
Nirmal further accused Congress of conspiring during the 1952 and 1954 elections to prevent BR Ambedkar from entering Parliament. "This demonstrates their anti-SC, ST, and OBC stance," he added.
He claimed that Congress has misused Article 356 (president's rule) multiple times to destabilise state governments. "Congress has no respect for the Constitution. It used Article 356 90 times to topple opposition governments. Is this how they respect the Constitution?" he questioned.
Nirmal asserted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has amended the Indian Constitution only eight times, using those amendments for the welfare and upliftment of SCs, STs, and OBCs, while Congress has used amendments for political gain.
"Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership since 2014, not only has the spirit of the Indian Constitution been upheld, but the principles of Dr BR Ambedkar have also been respected, prioritising the welfare of marginalised communities," he said.
"Both the National Conference (NC) and Congress are plotting to revoke reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs, but the people will teach them a lesson in the upcoming elections, as they have realised that only the BJP can safeguard their interests," he added.
Nirmal also accused Congress and the National Conference of implementing Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir through backdoor means. "Prime Minister Modi, by revoking these articles, has ensured the rights of weaker sections," he concluded.
Also present at the press conference were BJP's State SC Morcha General Secretary Adarsh Jathiar and Media In-charge Dr. Pradeep Mahotra.