the BJP has shared a 2009 video of Dr Manmohan Singh (Image: AFP)
The BJP on Friday shared a 2009 video of former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, in which, he can be heard saying that Muslim minorities, if poor, had a right on the country’s resources.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharpened its attack on the Congress on Friday over the issue of “preferential treatment to Muslims.” Posting yet another video of former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh from 2009, the BJP said that it was “further proof of the Congress mindset to give preference to Muslims in everything, from reservation to resources.”
“April 2009: In the run up to Lok Sabha election, Dr Manmohan Singh, reiterated his statement that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nation’s resources. He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should have first right when it comes to resources,” the BJP wrote.
“This unequivocal assertion by Dr Manmohan Singh demolishes the Congress’ canards and clarifications on his previous statement. It supports our assertion that preferential treatment to Muslims is a clear policy of the Congress Party. This is further proof of the Congress mindset to give preference to Muslims in everything, from reservation to resources,” the BJP added in a post on X (previously Twitter).
April 2009: In the run up to Lok Sabha election, Dr Manmohan Singh, reiterated his statement that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nation’s resources. He categorically stated that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should… pic.twitter.com/sNTYa5WSfM— BJP (@BJP4India) April 26, 2024
BJP National President JP Nadda further added that the Congress was taking away the rights of OBCs and giving them to Muslims. “The hidden agenda of Congress and INDI Alliance is to snatch away the rights of SC, ST, OBC and give the same to Muslims. Congress says that the first right to resources of the country is that of Muslims. Whereas, PM Narendra Modi says that the first right to resources of the country is that of the poor,” he said on Friday.
Commenting on Manmohan Singh’s 2009 video, Nadda added, “Manmohan Singh did not make that statement mistakenly. He did it deliberately because while answering a question in April 2009 – during a press conference in Mumbai – he stood by his statement and said that minorities, especially Muslims, should be given priority and the first right to resources of the country should be theirs.”
“Through Sachar Committee Report, false statements were made and it was said that Muslims are in worse shape than Dalits. It means that Congress was already creating a base to declare Muslims SC and provide facilities of SC reservations to them…Congress hates SC, ST and OBC because majority of the population in the country comprises them and this is Congress party’s manifesto,” Nadda added.
The Congress-BJP war of words over the issue began on April 6 when Rahul Gandhi mentioned wealth re-distribution and said, “We will do a caste census so that the backwards, SCs, STs, poor of general castes and minorities get to know how much they account for in the country. After that, we will do a financial and institutional survey to find who holds the country’s wealth, and what section holds it, and then we will undertake revolutionary work. Whatever is your right, we will work on giving you the same. Be it media, bureaucracy, or all institutions — we will create space for you there and give you your right.”
The BJP wasted no time and attacked Gandhi and the Congress, alleging their plan was to give priority to Muslims. PM Modi questioned if the Congress would re-distribute wealth amongst the Muslim community, linking it to a statement of former prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2006 where he spelt out who should be the first to have claim over the country’s resources.
The fight over the issue intensified further when the Congress government in Karnataka included Muslims under the OBC category to grant them reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state.
Days after the move, PM Modi said, “Once again, Congress has given reservation based on religion in Karnataka through the backdoor by putting all Muslim castes along with the OBCs. By doing so, it has snatched a big chunk of reservation from the OBC community. Congress indulged in this dangerous game which will destroy your (future) generations. It is the biggest enemy of the OBCs.”
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